In the last couple of days, I had healed up well, though not to the point where I was battle-ready. I could throw [Arcane Shot] at will, but my movement still lacked its usual agility.
I invested the few unallocated points I had into Recovery, which seemed like the right choice. Just like how my energy recovered a little when I invested points in Soul, my wounds patched up a bit with the investment in Recovery. Of course, I was still far from making a complete recovery.
The primal essence helped with the healing as well, much to my relief. I¡¯d poured all my effort into healing my broken spine with the essence. Perhaps a couple of levels up would have sped things along too, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hunt with such an injury.
But that didn¡¯t mean I was simply resting for the last two days. No, in the time I was awake, I came up with a brilliant plan to get stronger, which I shamelessly titled Shai¡¯s Path to Supremacy. I wished I had a pen and paper to refine it through writing... but it was impossible for a limbless creature like me.
After mulling over all my experiences, interactions, and fights, I realised it was all about essence. The system rewards me with essence when I slay a creature... but I could also gain essence just from devouring essence-rich contents like mushrooms. Obviously, levelling up from them seemed to be far more difficult compared to hunting, but that didn¡¯t mean it was impossible.
I¡¯d already gained a level once. It¡¯s only a matter of time. And right now, time was the one thing I had, given my banged-up state.
With everything I had experienced, it was safe to assume I was different somehow. I wasn¡¯t sure if it went beyond my reincarnation or sentience, but none of the other creatures I¡¯d encountered possessed something like an inventory. I wasn¡¯t even sure if System Grandpa assisted them as he helped me.
But they do have levels. Just that they weren¡¯t cognisant enough to grasp primal essence. I, however, am an exception. I deemed primal essence to be the greatest weapon in my arsenal, and I had barely gotten the hang of it. I¡¯d have to gravitate more toward weaving primal essence and learn additional spirit skills.
Clearly, digging and crawling, or popping eyes didn¡¯t come as skills. If they were, I would have already acquired them. After mulling over it a lot, I found a few essentials necessary for my survival. In terms of skills, I needed a defensive skill, a strengthening skill, and a trump card. Thankfully, I already had some ideas about the first two...
Then there were the attributes. I hadn¡¯t been utilising them all. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t want to, I simply wasn¡¯t sure what some of them did. I took a deep breath and commanded my mind to open the status page.
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 6
Laws: None.
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute: Total
- Physique: 16
- Mind: 18
- Soul: 26
- Recovery: 21
Special Attributes:
- Insight: 9
- Evolution: 17
- Fortune: 18
Unallocated points: 0
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (Dormant) | Poison Affinity (D)
Skills [5/8]:
Basic Meditation (F) - 99% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 9% | Arcane Shot (D) - 13% | Essence Weaving (E) - 4% | Pain Resistance (E) - 32%This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I was only a Level 1 Hatchling.
[System Log] [Active Quest]
The four primary attributes¡ªPhysique, Mind, Soul, and Recovery¡ªwere what I needed to raise to grow stronger. With my observations, I found I couldn¡¯t overlook any of them.
Soul might affect the amount and quality of the primal essence I could draw upon, but without a powerful Mind to harness and direct it, it would be as useless as a bucket of water. Mental strength was equally essential.
Of course, I couldn¡¯t deny the use of a powerful physique, either.
Lastly, there was Recovery, representing my regenerative and healing abilities¡ªan equally important attribute. However, I needed sufficient points in the other three attributes¡ªPhysique, Soul, and Mind¡ªto fully utilise Recovery. In a way, Recovery was the compound of the three aspects of life.
Other than levelling up, blessings and awakening marks helped improve attributes, as evidenced by the +10 boost I had received to all attributes.
Unfortunately, I knew no other way to obtain blessings or awaken more marks. Defeating higher-ranked beasts might help, but that was pretty suicidal in my current state.
But the path to power didn¡¯t end with attributes... skills were a big part of it. Other than improving my five skills, I planned on getting three more useful skills in my arsenal by the time my body fully recovered.
Before that, though, I intended to complete Basic Meditation, since I only needed one more percentage. At worst, it would take a couple of days... I had that much time.
Thankfully, it didn¡¯t take long. I didn¡¯t know the exact time, but I was sure it was no longer than a couple of hours when I heard Grandpa¡¯s voice again.
[Congratulations, you have mastered Basic Meditation (F). +2 Points to Evolution, Mind, Soul.]
Power stirred within me, and I was more than delighted with this pleasant surprise. But the surprises weren¡¯t over yet.
[Your grasp of meditation is greater than the basic form. You can weave primal essence in meditative form.]
[Basic Meditation (F) evolves to Advanced Meditation (E)...]
Cool!
[Advanced Meditation:
Mastery: 1%
Helps in accumulating, synthesising, and recovering primal essence. It also has a great effect on calming the mind.]
With that, I found it was a lot easier to draw in primal essence. My mind could visualise and channel energy into all my wounds as if a whole new path had been opened for me. Now, I didn¡¯t have to build up the power to shoot an Arcane Shot. While it still took a split second¡ªas I tested¡ªit was thrice as fast. And stronger, too.
It was like a qualitative change to how I utilised primal essence. So, not just the Mind affects how I direct the primal essence; skills like Meditation do too¡
The realisation brought more joy to me. I utilised another [Arcane Shot], this time imbued with poison. The synergy between the venom and essence improved as well.
Satisfied, I moved on to practise my essence weaving skill. My primary goal was to learn a defensive skill. I focused my energy, attempting to condense it into a thin layer of barrier in front of me. I already knew the theory behind it from the insights I received when I learned [Essence Weaving (E)]. Yet all my attempts dissipated into thin air quickly, no matter how much energy I invested.
If I get discouraged by failures, I should give up already¡
I tried again. After my eighth failed attempt, I finally received the prompt.
[Would you like to learn the skill, Force Shield (E)?]
[Force Shield (E) will consume 1 point of Insight.]
I eagerly agreed as System Grandpa deducted 1 point from my Insight and flooded my tiny mind with a barrage of relevant information. For a brief moment, I felt the weight of the knowledge, and my eyes widened in recognition of what I had been doing wrong.
[Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Force Shield (E).]
I¡¯ve got it, I hissed. Thanks, Grandpa.
I wasn¡¯t discouraged by the lack of a reply from System Grandpa. I was already busy channelling my energy as the information had shown me. The mistake I¡¯d been making was rather foolish. I had been leaving the energy to dissipate after creating the transparent shield, but that wasn¡¯t the correct approach. Without intent behind it, the energy was nothing but inanimate matter.
I needed to maintain my intent behind the skill and circulate the power in a cycle to avoid wasting more energy than necessary.
After a couple more tries, I finally succeeded.
[Force Shield (E):
Mastery: 1%
Conjures a semi-corporeal shield of primal essence.]
I spent a moment gloating at my improvement before moving on to learn the next skill.
Chapter 10 - Empower
For the next skill, Shai did not succumb to using 1 Insight point. She took it as a challenge for herself to learn it without any more help from System Grandpa. Thankfully, she had all the knowledge she needed.
It took her hours, simply because she ran out of energy multiple times on the verge of learning the skill.
[Congratulations! Through perseverance and dedication, you have learned the skill, Empower (E)]
[Empower (E)
Mastery: 1%
Boosts the physical power of the user, spending primal essence. ]
Am I a genius or what, Grandpa?!
Shai experienced a faint sense of empowerment whenever she harnessed primal essence throughout her body. It was elusive, difficult to pinpoint, but in moments of complete exhaustion and powerlessness, it became evident. It was primal essence all along.
Her hunch saved 1 precious insight point. Shai spent a moment on her victory dance and then exhausted her energy to improve her skills, which didn''t even take a few minutes, already running low on energy.
Feeling exhausted, Shai retrieved the last few of the mushrooms. She could sense the rich essence within them as she devoured them without rest.
Coiling herself in the gap between the stone cracks again, she began to meditate again. After a few hours of focused practice, Shai drifted off to sleep. Too exhausted to carry on.
Waking up, Shai refrained from surveying the dungeon, and instead, immersed herself in improving her skills. She dedicated most of her time to mastering [Empower], as it didn''t consume as much energy as the other skills.
The dungeon remained enveloped in complete darkness, making it impossible for Shai to measure time conventionally. However, she found an alternative method of tracking time. By accessing the Advancement Quest through the system log, she discovered that there were still 21 days remaining.
Her skills were progressing at a steady pace, not exponentially, but sufficient to keep her motivated and satisfied.
[Skills[7/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 12% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 9% | Arcane Shot (D) - 16% | Essence Weaving (E) - 11% | Pain Resistance (E) - 36% | Force Shield (E) - 6% | Empower (E) - 18%]
On the fourth day in the dungeon, Shai''s injuries had nearly healed. While she couldn''t be certain if her fractured bones were completely mended, she no longer felt any pain. She was back in fighting shape.
Despite her recovery, she dedicated another day to training. Unfortunately, she was at her wit''s end for the last skill. It wasn''t that she lacked skill prompts, just that none of them seemed like they could give her an edge in a desperate situation.
Well, they were useful skills alright. She accessed [System Log] to check them for one last time.
[Would you like to learn the skill Identification (E)?]
Shai had examined the fruits, mushrooms, and all the peculiar things in her possession when the prompt for the skill appeared. She deemed this skill would let her identify magical items, but Shai begrudgingly declined the skill. Even though the skill would be useful, she did not want to use up her last skill slot on it.
The same was true for the other skill prompt:
[Would you like to learn the skill Night Vision (E)?]
Shai had wondered why all the skill prompts she received were of E-grade skills. Hmm, perhaps the higher grade skill is only possibly attained through a skill evolution?
For her last skill, Shai would want to get at least another D-grade skill. Maybe it was possible to increase the skill slots, but Shai wouldn''t gamble it with something like [Night Vision].
Another matter on her mind was [Aspects]. Unlike skills which could be learned, Aspect seemed like something inherited or intrinsic. Her [Poison Affinity (D)] for example.
She still had no understanding of what [Golden Eyes] entailed, aside from her eyes having a sharp golden shimmer. Even when she was human, her eyes possessed a golden hue, prodding her to question the significance behind them. Unfortunately, she had no knowledge regarding this aspect, which left her with no answers.
On the fifth day, Shai woke up to a pleasant surprise, which tempted her to the path of cannibalism.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 7. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
So it was possible to gain levels from eating. Maybe she should give up looking for a fight and search for food instead. But no... if it was only about eating, the system should have been broken towards obese people. That was unlikely, which only meant there were various other matters at play.
She cautiously left the pit where she had secluded herself for over five days. It was time for a little dungeon exploration.
The cavern, or rather the dungeon, turned out to be larger than she initially anticipated, with numerous spiralling passageways that went in all directions, resembling a maze. Fortunately, she encountered no traps. If there had been traps, she surely would have stumbled upon them after entering the cavern.
Shai drew a little energy into her eyes, causing a faint aura of light to radiate around her slit pupil, enhancing her vision further. This was how she managed to trigger the prompt for the [Night Vision] skill. But even if she didn''t take the skill, this way she could perceive her surroundings with exceptional clarity, disregarding the looming darkness that surrounded her.
She encountered no creatures within the dungeon. However, she did come across distinctive scars etched into the walls, confirming her earlier assumptions. Magical creatures did inhabit this cavern, much to her relief and horror.
Shai couldn''t remain comfortable, knowing such an expansive underground space was devoid of life. Thankfully, that wasn''t the case.
Her eyes examined the scars etched on the walls, attempting to interpret what kind of creature could carve them. They appeared to be remnants of battles fought. She couldn''t definitively identify the exact characteristics of these creatures. They likely belonged to the insectoid family, like the fire-breathing beetle, but with sharper appendages or stingers. This world possessed its peculiar variety of insectoids.
It didn''t take long for Shai to encounter the denizens of this cavern. In fact, it found her first. As she scoured her surroundings in search of creatures to hunt, an unsightly eight-legged spider suddenly dropped from the ceiling, and launched a swift and unprovoked attack at her.
Fortunately, Shai was vigilant, her Predatory Instinct constantly monitoring her surroundings.
She deftly manoeuvred between the creature''s sharp appendages. The spider was monstrous with its eight eyes gleaming in a dangerous crimson glint. Its reddish aura was similar to that of the stupid python she barely managed to kill.
But that was when Shai barely knew anything, now with more attributes and skills, Shai stood a better chance.
The spider was unrelenting in its attack, and horribly rude in treating a woman. Well, it wasn''t as if she had expected anything less. Releasing a burst of sharp primal essence, Shai leapt between the jagged legs of the Spider.
With the mad fervour the creature was coming at her, Shai couldn''t help but wonder what was wrong with every creature she met so far. Why do they go full-hungry murder-hobo mode?
Well, she did initiate the attacks on the beetle and python, but they were already engaged in a life-or-death struggle. She simply helped them on their way out. However, apart from that, the other instances were not her fault.
Granted, many beasts and creatures could exhibit savage behaviour, but there should be a limit to it. Most savage beasts hunted solely to satiate their hunger, and the same applied to the majority of normal creatures. However, these creatures seemed to be of a different sentiment altogether. Well, even my own hunger is unbearable at times...
Shai fired an [Arcane Shot] at the massive body of the Spider. To her dismay, it left a little more than a dent, barely a fleshly wound. She pondered its defensive weaknesses and was about to strike at a crack in its exoskeleton when something shot out from the Weaver''s abdomen, rendering her completely immobilised on the ground.
She was ensnared by slimy and sticky ropes like webs. Before Shai could react, her world was tilted. The Spider abruptly twisted its massive body, flinging her along with its clinging web.
Stupid, of course, a spider can shoot webs? Shai could barely berate herself, as she was thrown against the wall. Shai braced herself for the impact, channelling [Empower]. With her body grown over a metre, Shai seemed to feel more of the crash.
Despite her preparation, all her skills split from her grasp as her body crashed into the rough surface of the sidewall. Shai let out a frustrated hiss. Fortunately, the swing severed the sticky web that bound her.
This spider proved to be far more formidable than she had initially anticipated. Thankfully, it wasn''t a lost cause like that eagle that almost severed her.
Without hesitation, she scrambled to distance herself from the Spider. The foe pursued, relentlessly launching its sticky web at her.
Shai countered by firing a series of weaker Arcane Shots. She even concentrated her primal essence into a [Force Shield] and contorted her body to evade the remainders of those sticky threads.
Thankfully, there were brief pauses between the Spider''s web assaults, providing her with a narrow window to escape.
Shai needed to inflict severe injuries, if not kill, this abomination to free herself from this harrowing creature. She gathered her primal essence into poisonous [Arcane Shots] and launched them at the encroaching creature, while simultaneously making her way towards a steep rise in the rugged terrain.
The [Arcane Shots] inflicted minimal damage, but they kept the Weaver at bay, affording her a moment to launch a more potent attack. Shai coiled her tail behind her, ascending several metres high on the steep incline.
Spotting the creature right on her tail, she swiftly spun around, her tail lashing against the rugged surface like a whip. [Empower] made her body stronger, as Shai propelled herself towards the eight-legged adversary in a blink of an eye.
Still in mid-air, Shai unleashed Arcane Shots into the spider''s glowing red eyes. Instead of aiming for its head, she snapped her tail in the air, descending beneath the creature''s massive abdomen, which had been her target all along.
Without hesitation, Shai thrust herself forward, biting into the crevice between its head and abdomen. She pierced the creature''s tough exoskeleton, digging in with everything she had.
The Spider screeched in agony. Poisson coursed through its system, yet it remained standing. With so many legs, it was too hard to off-balance. However, Shai had struck its blind spot. Those sharp limbs could not reach her, nor could its sticky webs.
The victory was within her grasp. She just needed to bide her time.
Chapter 11 - Twisted Creatures
Shai had to bite her way into triumph; her decisiveness shining through her unladylike actions. Being a snake, she had to use everything she had. As if that was any different from the girl she was. Shai couldn''t even remember.
Even with its formidable eight eyes and eight legs, the spider was caught off guard and powerless against her. Her attack was just too sudden, completely unexpected for the spider. Despite being a ferocious predator that could invoke fear into the hearts of men, it was completely vulnerable and incapable of defending itself when she assaulted its blindspot.
This gave Shai the freedom to execute her plan with precision. As she continued her relentless invasion into the segment between its head and abdomen, the spider''s attempts to subdue her ceased, its appendages suspended after a while.
Desperate and disoriented, it crashed into the sidewall and battered its own body in a futile attempt to shake her off. Sadly, it was too late for the giant creature.
Eventually, the spider collapsed onto the ground, succumbing to a pitiful state. Shai''s gaze fixated on the dying creature as she came out of the gory crevice, blood and disgusting goo oozing out, staining her little form--which wasn''t that little anymore. She distanced herself from it, as relief washed over her.
Shai lamented that she couldn''t end the creature''s suffering swiftly. Panting heavily, Shai remained fixated on the squirming monstrosity before her. It still gnawed at her. Its screeches pierced the air for an agonisingly long minute until it finally succumbed to its fate.
A soothing energy enveloped Shai, offering comfort after the intense battle.
[You have slain Twisted Weaver Lvl 17).]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 8. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
With the adversary defeated, the only task remaining was to loot the spoils. Shai wasted no time in stowing away the huge creature, which probably filled the space for another creature of this size. Her gaze scanned the surrounding area, vigilant for any potential threats.
Although she emerged victorious against the Spider, the thought of encountering another one of those colossal monstrosities filled her with apprehension. While she did discover their vulnerable blind spot--their reverse scale--it didn''t make attacking that spot any easier.
I need to hunt something a few levels weaker, Shai decided, as she crept away from there. She probably wouldn''t be able to store any more huge creatures like this... but the level-ups were always welcome.
So Shai ventured deeper into the depths of the dungeon, hoping to encounter prey that posed less of a challenge. Fortunately, finding prey was not difficult in a dungeon swarming with monstrous creatures like spiders.
It seemed whatever dwelled in this dungeon had to have eight legs at the very least. The spiders barely made the cut, but the ones Shai discovered next were evidently the prodigal sons of the dungeon, their appendage numbers marking over a couple of dozen.
Hey, Grandpa, how''s it fair that I don''t have any legs, and these mindless bugs had dozens of them?
Centipedes, there were eight of them, lurked in the darkness; her [Predatory Instinct] told her she could take them on. They weren''t aware Shai could see them, though she still chose to creep away when they chased after her.
They have the number, what can a little snake do against such creatures?
The centipede¡¯s trunk was glossy brown and inflated with a solid carapace, with dozens of legs working together to chase after her. Shai was faster than before, her Physique reaching closer to 20 points. Even the augmented strength [Empower] provided overshadowed any concerns she might have about a prolonged battle.
But first, she needed to understand their strength and weakness.
Their movement lacked coordination as they raced against each other, driven by a voracious desire to be the first to sink their teeth into the delicious-looking little snake.
Preparing for the impending battle, Shai enveloped her white scales with primal essence, causing them to emit a faint glow. The [Arcane Shot] was ready at command. All she needed to do was aim for the right spot. Save for the centipedes'' body segments, Shai deemed it would take too much out of her to damage these centipedes.
Crawling and coiling herself to build momentum, Shai whipped her tail against the side of the rim, launching her narrow body into the air. Suspended in mid-air, her slit eyes emanated a dangerous glint as she shot the [Arcane Shot]. It hissed through the air and drilled through the body segment of the closest centipede, rendering it powerless.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
The battle barely started. Shai twisted her form in mid-air, charging headfirst toward another centipede. With a single powerful lunge, she pierced through its body segment, claiming its life more efficiently than the previous encounter.
[You have slain a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 7.]
[You have slain a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 9.]
As Shai emerged from the giant centipede above her, two more of its companions lunged at her, attempting to take a bite. Her mind raced, and she swiftly twisted, manoeuvring her body underneath the foe closest to her. It aimed to sink its fangs into her lower body, but it was Shai who got the taste of the foul creature first.
Suppressing her repulsion, she sank her teeth into the creature''s vulnerable underside, causing its body to convulse.
Shai came out unscathed, but her eyes widened at the sheer depravity of the scene before her. Astonishment and disbelief filled her as she realised that the other centipede, which had come to attack her alongside its companion, was actually nibbling its teeth on its fallen companion.
Did it think its friend got me and excluded it from having me? She came up with a theory. Still, it seemed too much of a payback to eat one of their kind.
Are these creatures cannibalistic?
This is unforgivable! Shai mocked inwardly and charged at the foe as if she were any different. Well, Shai merely began to bear the thought of cannibalism... it was not a crime until she acted on those thoughts--this was how law enforcement works.
She unleashed an [Arcane Shot], which hissed its way into the mouth of the centipede that was busy devouring its own kind.
[You have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 8.]
I know we haven¡¯t known for long, Shai told the other half-eaten centipede. But I avenged you. Now rest in peace. I¡¯ll come back to collect the price later.
Five more centipedes remained, and their presence still posed a threat. But they couldn''t compare to a single Level 17 Weaver. Unlike the spiders with their eight strong, sharp legs, armed with sticky webs, centipedes were just a little quicker in comparison.
Though they possessed solid carapaces, the vulnerability of their body segments rendered their sturdy exteriors irrelevant. At least to a cunning smart-ass like Shai, not that she had an ass. Not anymore.
Most of the centipede was at a higher level than Shai, yet they barely had any leverage on her. It was just the power of intelligence and skills.
Shai crawled below one of the centipedes again, twisting and turning so that it wouldn¡¯t bite her tail. The same scenario repeated itself, with the attacking centipedes inadvertently turning against their fellow creatures.
The spider may be deranged, but there seems to be no salvation for these centipedes, Shai thought.
Something was gravely amiss in this dungeon. No, not just the dungeon, but the whole place. These were simply not magical creatures; they had become monstrous beings, mutated and tainted by their greed and hunger. Reflecting on her encounters outside the cavern, Shai realised that even the beetle, python, and hamster had exhibited a savage nature beyond what was natural.
Maybe she too was acting a little overboard of her viciousness... No, I''m different... Right Grandpa?
Hmm, is he even real? Shai ignored the irrelevant thought, but her mind still tilted that way.
If she were to follow the same path, how long could she keep up fighting off the pervertedness? Shai couldn''t help but consider, as she killed her next opponent. Shai had been in constant hunger since she hatched. It clearly wasn''t natural anymore.
Perhaps all of these anomalies were interconnected. Shai recalled the quest about unfolding the mystery of the land. She had ignored it so far, but it didn''t feel irrelevant to her livelihood anymore.
This dungeon was probably the epicentre of it all. She decided to delve further into it after she dealt with this group of cannibalistic creatures.
it turned out, dispatching them was surprisingly easy. Once they became engrossed in their self-consuming frenzy, they completely forgot about her presence. Shai swiftly ended their wretched lives, one after another, until only the final centipede remained.
Only when its companions were dead, did it come out of the frenzy and poised to sink its fangs into her.
How foolish of it to think that it could eat her when seven other of them failed in their attempt. Shai confined its advance with [Force Shield] and then ended its miserable life shooting a couple of [Arcane Shots]
. . .
[You have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 13.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 9. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
Level up, lessgoooo!
Shai reached out to the nearest lifeless centipede and tried to store it. It disappeared into mist in a matter of a few seconds. Sadly, she couldn''t store the next corpse. Her inventory was full.
But then again, these creatures were deranged. It seemed that the corruption had affected the centipedes to such an extent that their flesh was no longer consumable. Was this contagious? Her [Predatory Instinct] couldn''t tell.
A sudden alarm blared in her mind as Shai swiftly recoiled, spinning her tail against the ground. In the next moment, a slimy cobweb entangled in her tail, revealing an enormous spider lurking on the walls.
Shai hadn''t seen it coming before the attack at all. Even her Instinct failed to warn her in time.
Judging by its monstrous appearance¡ªwhich paled the spider she killed before¡ªit should be a rank above. Over Level 25. It was nearly twice the size of the one she had hunted before.
I hate spiders! Shai groaned.
Chapter 12: Horror
The spider unleashed more sticky webs, attempting to tangle her into its trap. However, Shai skillfully evaded or neutralised each sticky thread, either shooting them down with [Arcane Shot] or restricting them with [Force Shield]. She didn''t remain to battle it out with the Weaver, though.
Shai didn''t have a death wish.
As she moved towards the previously slain centipede, deftly evading the spider''s attacks, the giant arachnid descended upon her, launching a close-quarter assault.
Shai had no intention of engaging in a futile and hopeless brawl. Sadly, there was no way she could avoid combat and retreat. Even the two levels she gained were barely anything
It appeared that this spider in particular was a skilled stalker. Eventually, its sticky web pinned her down, albeit only trapping her tail. Shai remained arrested on the spot. Without bothering to free herself, she shot [Arcane Shots] into its blaring red eyes. Her aim wasn''t perfect, giving the colossal creature just enough time to save its eye, but the darts managed to buy her the little time she needed.
Thoughts of escape flickered in Shai''s mind as she quickly freed herself, utilising all her strength. Shai didn''t even give the horrifying creature another look and crept into the direction of one narrow tunnel. Only the narrow tunnel would be her saving grace.
The giant spider screeched, finding its meal running away.
Well, pal, see you around, Shai thought to herself. This dungeon certainly wasn''t a place a creature of her level should venture. Hell, even with all caution, she fell prey to the spider''s attack. Shai clenched her jaw in defeat.
She had become a cold-blooded snake, an evolving predator, and the mere thought of running away made her feel disgusted.
Something inside her screamed, urging her to stand up against this eight-legged insect. It filled her with irrational bravado, fueling the absurd notion that she could overcome this higher-ranked Weaver. Perhaps it was the corruption, the greed¡ªthe very thing that had contaminated all the creatures she had encountered thus far¡ªand it was affecting her too.
Gritting her teeth, Shai crawled away, but the spider persisted in its pursuit. Thankfully, it could only attack her by shooting those webs as Shai safely entered the narrow tunnel, where its huge body couldn''t enter.
Shai pushed herself to her maximum speed, hurrying the hell out. She couldn''t understand why they all wanted to eat her, she was but a little creature. Eating her would barely itch their insatiable hunger.
I¡¯ll remember this, ugly bastard. Shai set her jaw, anger boiling within her as she vowed revenge against the creature that had crossed her. Just wait a few days when I¡¯m strong enough, I¡¯ll¡ª
But her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a disturbing sense of danger that permeated her surroundings. Shai hastened her pace as she steered through the narrow tunnel.
More centipede-like creatures emerged in her path. Dozens of them swarmed the area, yet instead of launching an immediate attack, most of them seemed to be in a strange state, while the deranged remainder of the bunch didn''t need the invitation to chase after her.
Shai knew better than to engage in battle amidst this chaotic horde. Alone and outnumbered, her only option was to flee. Centipedes fell around her from every direction, impeding her escape with their relentless pursuit.
Fury surged through her veins, and she lashed out, killing a couple of the frenzied creatures in her attempt to break free. However, instead of quelling their madness, it only seemed to fuel their aggression. Within a matter of minutes, Shai found herself relentlessly pursued by a deranged legion of centipedes.
This is the inferno! The hell! Shai cursed, channelling every ounce of her energy into her escape. Clearly, I have sinned...
She desperately sought out a narrow exit, a crevice where only her tiny form could slither through.
Abruptly, an overwhelming primal fear gripped her, paralysing her mind and wrenching every thought out of her head. Shai couldn''t comprehend what was happening as the all-consuming dread took hold of her nerves, eclipsing even the pursuit of the centipedes.
Yet her body continued to move, driven by instinct and survival, pushing forward despite the convulsions and discomfort. Before she could locate an escape or be captured by the relentless horde, the ground vanished beneath her, and she plummeted into a pit once more.
A blaring alarm triggered in her mind, but it was a little too late for the warning.
[Congrautalaitons! You have unveiled the Secret of the Land.]You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Contrary to her belief, the crash was unexpectedly soft, as if she had landed on a wonderous cushion that absorbed the force of impact completely. Relief washed over Shai, momentarily easing the gripping dread.
And then the abyss enveloped her completely.
It was anything but wondrous. She was completely blinded. The air felt stifling and suffocating, devoid of breathable air, making her surroundings the most uncomfortable place she had ever experienced. A cold, burning liquid poured into her body, leaving her no room for escape. It subjected her to a raw, primal power, enticing her to surrender herself to its influence.
Help! Shai cried out desperately, but her plea remained trapped within her mind.
The was no salvation, only an unstoppable force of corruption that sought to invade her very being.
Please, Grandpa! she bellowed, even though it felt foolish to reach out to someone who might not even be able to hear her, or worse, might not exist at all.
In her helplessness, Shai wailed, her struggles gradually subsiding as a hunger for power began to consume her.
Pleeeaaassseeee!
Shai''s consciousness faded, and she was thrust into a harrowing vision. It was the most repugnant and degrading environment imaginable, surpassing even the blood and gore she had witnessed before. Everywhere she looked, there were disfigured corpses, torn limbs, twisted creatures, and the incessant buzzing of flies.
A nauseating stench saturated the air, assaulting her senses, sufficient to vomit out everything held in her stomach.
Creatures of various shapes and sizes roamed the scene, most of them monstrous and bearing physical deformities. Limbs uneven. Wings misshapen. Their bodies overweight. Yet they seemed entirely indifferent to their defects. They feasted upon the sea of degrading corpses.
Come, join us! An invisible yet tyrannical power beckoned her, enticing her to succumb to the deranged state in which those dark creatures existed. Shai detected the line here... If she gives up, she''ll--
You cannot resist, a voice whispered into her mind. A deranged voice, high-pitched and old. It is inevitable. I am inevitable. Join the feast. Or be feasted upon.
The flies buzzed, prickling over her being. She wasn''t in her snake form, but as a scrawny girl of late teenage years. It was her, but she didn''t know for how long. The files were devouring her, bit by bit, moment by moment.
Helpless, Shai found herself yielding to the inevitability of the feast, nearly surrendering to the madness and degeneracy. Greed and gluttony overflowed within her as she forced herself to crawl her way out of the sea of the dead. The overwhelming corrupted desires consumed her bit by bit.
They can''t hurt you if you don''t let them, another voice echoed in her mind. A familiar voice with familiar words.
It wasn''t the voice of the System Grandpa.
They can''t compel you to anything, the words brought a semblance of clarity to her mind, and Shai jolted awake from her daze.
Father? Shai called out, her voice echoing into the back of her mind, getting no response. Did she just hallucinate?
Doesn''t matter! Shai didn''t have the luxury of time to discern whether it was some epiphany or her lunacy, for the degeneracy and corruption still held a firm grasp on her being.
I have to resist. I won''t let them in! Shai screamed within her mind, forcefully shutting her eyes and attempting to purge the taint that threatened to consume her.
[You have burned 1 point of Fortune]
Shai was too consumed in her struggle to hear or see the notification.
I won''t give up my mind! Her thoughts drifted back to the past of the memories of a tall man, who had guided a young girl through the way, clasping her little fingers. When the girl couldn''t walk anymore, he held her up in his embrace and led her to the light. Despite being blind in one eye, he illuminated her whole world.
That girl was her¡ªpowerless, weak, and dependent on others.
As much as she longed to rely on her father once more, he was no longer there. The girl she was, the girl she couldn''t remember, was dead, leaving her shattered and broken.
[You have burned 1 point of Fortune.]
[The user has been introduced to the corrosive power of high concentrated essence of laws. Consuming Evolution points to...]
...
Shai clenched her jaw, mustering all her willpower to resist the corrupting taint that threatened to overtake her mind. A radiant golden aura of power enveloped her frail form, shielding and soothing her deranged state, preventing it from collapsing completely. The power felt familiar, yet elusive, beyond her comprehension.
[The Dormant power of Golden Eyes has awakened.]
Moments passed, and Shai''s consciousness faded away from the repugnant feast. She was still within the confines of the vision, but no longer immersed in its disgust and contamination.
The environment had transformed, becoming a swirling maze of intricate webs. The spiralling webs stretched endlessly, guiding her through twisted tunnels, and leading her to somewhere unknown.
The sheer complexity and colossal structure of the webs overwhelmed her senses. It wasn''t simply their immense size and complexity that astounded her. There was an underlying grandeur, a subtle majesty that she was too small to fully grasp.
After what felt like an eternity, Shai finally reached the heart of the spiralling webs. It was a vast chasm, swarming with tangled webs in every direction. Within the heart of this intricate webbing hovered a pulsating cocoon, originating pulses of contrasting power.
With each pulsation of the cocoon, Shai''s own heart trembled in response. Shai shuddered as she was finally led out of the vision, breaking free from its clutches.
Chapter 13 - Diabolical Gain
Shai awoke within thick, musky water that oozed a terrifying aura of corruption, sending shivers down her spine. The weight of the disgusting fluid drained her strength, she had to summon every ounce of strength and grit to free herself from its confining suffocation.
Shai barely managed to get out of the malevolent vision, narrowly avoiding corruption. She wasn''t going to tempt fate any further, staying in the corrupted essence pool. Even if she might be able to get super strong she just drank a little of it.
Gathering her remaining energy, she flicked her tail with all her might, forcing herself to leap away from the viscous essence and onto the safety of the rim. Just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief, her eyes locked on a colossal creature in front of her. Her comfort was soon replaced by a worrying sense of despair.
[Basilisk - ??? Lvl 119]
Holyfucking mother of Jesus! Shai didn''t question where the notification came to be, but she noticed she had become surprisingly good at discerning aura. Far better than what her [Predatory Instinct (D)] let her. But it wasn''t time for that.
The Basilisk rested like a small mountain, coiled beside the corrupting pool of essence. Its skin gleamed with a glossy, matted texture. It had no carapace, but it looked harder than any boulder Shai had ever laid eyes on. The only reason it wasn''t in the pool was probably that its body expanded larger than the pool itself, though it wasn''t hard to guess the creature was turned. The jet-black aura it oozed was evident enough.
Even though it rested with its eyes closed, the abomination emanated a thick stench of power and corruption, resembling what Shai witnessed in her vision of the plagued land.
Sensing the imminent danger, Shai swiftly surveyed her surroundings--left, right, up, down--and slithered away without sparing another glance at the colossal Twisted creature.
Thankfully, the basilisk''s mere presence deterred other creatures from approaching the pool, no matter how alluring the corrupt essence was to their insatiable greed and evolution, leaving Shai an easier way out.
Dozens of bones and decomposing corpses were strewn along the way. Shai''s blood ran colder on the discovery, but she couldn''t stop. To halt her crawl was to tempt fate. She''s been through a lot today, she wasn''t going to borrow more trouble if she could help it.
For half an hour, Shai crept onward, her sole objective was to distance herself from the contaminated pool and the twisted dwellers around it. Exhausted and ravenous, she finally rested in a narrow crack within the walls, offering a temporary hideout from the surrounding dangers.
Shai let out an exasperated hiss and reflected on the harrowing experience she just endured. While she couldn''t comprehend the nature of the threat she encountered--not completely--it was unmistakably a fate worse than death if she were to give in.
There were worse fates than being a little snake, or even dead. Getting corrupted and losing your will and mind to insane hunger and power seemed to be at the top of the list.
Overwhelmed by weariness and hunger, Shai retrieved whatever was in her inventory and devoured it without batting an eye.
After replenishing her strength, Shai accessed her system page. Her pupils widened like saucers as she gazed upon the shocking changes.
____________
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 9
Laws: Concept of Hunger (Early)
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute:
- Physique: 19
- Mind: 23 (+20%)
- Soul: 31
- Recovery: 24 (+10%)
Special Attributes:
- Insight: 2The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
- Evolution: 0
- Fortune: 9
Unallocated points: 0
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (A) | Poison Affinity (D) | Essence Eater (B)
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 5% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 9% | Arcane Shot (D) - 13% | Essence Weaving (E) - 4% | Pain Resistance (E) - 49% | Force Shield (E) - 12% | Empower (E) - 19% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 67%
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I was only a Level 1 Hatchling, but now I''m hungry...
[System Log] [Active Quest]
_____________
Shai opened [System Log] immediately to see what warranted such a shift in her status.
Dozens of unusual red system windows flooded her vision instantly.
[You have burned 1 point of Fortune.]
[You have burned 1 point of Fortune.]
[You have...]
...
[2 Insight Point consumed.]
[1 Evolution Point consumed.]
[1 Evolution Point consumed.]
...
[1 Evolution Point consumed.]
[Congratulations! You have learned the resistance ability, Mental Corrosion Resistance (D).]
Only then did Shai realise that she had expended a staggering total of 7 points of insight, 9 points of Fortune and all of Evolution, somehow. Perhaps more, considering the 3 unallocated points had been consumed as well. This better be worth it.
[Your Golden Eyes enforces Mental Corrosion Resistance]
...
[You have resisted the Corruption of Feast.]
Staring in horror at the messages concerning Mental Corrosion Resistance, Shai struggled to comprehend the magnitude of terror she had faced. This was easily something beyond her grasp, yet she accomplished it somehow.
But that wasn''t all to the notifications.
[Congratulations! You have comprehended the Concept of Hunger.]
[Congratulations! You have awakened the Hunger Aspect: Essence Eater (B)]
[All Evolutions Points have been consumed.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Unveil the Secret of the Land.]
[You''re eligible to receive Insight of Concealment.]
[Accept | Decline]
Shai''s mouth remained hung open for a few seconds, unable to process everything at once. She allowed herself a moment to let all her accomplishments sink in.
System Grandpa had tasked her with a quest titled "Unveil the Secret of the Land" with minimal information. Shai had initially dismissed it, thinking it was far beyond her capabilities. Yet, by a twist of fate, she stumbled upon the secret almost accidentally, almost getting herself corrupted or dead in the process.
Wait, I seemed to have gotten some essence-eating ability, but without getting corrupted? Shai felt the deep hunger gnawing at her stomach. Is there a catch to this ability?
[Essence Eater (B):
Law Aspect. The mastery and capacity of this aspect correlate to the Concept of Hunger.
Nothing is indigestible, nothing is unsavoury. Essence Eater comes straight from the Spark of Hunger. This ability will let the user directly devour foreign primal essence or convoluted spirit products, by creating a suction force. It can also replenish the user''s energy pool, providing instances of devoured primal essence.
+10% Efficiency to Recovery.]
Hmm, there is no mention of corruption in the description. That means I''m safe, right?
Shai got back to the promised rewards, which might be a godsend in such a treacherous dungeon. Unfortunately, she no longer had a skill slot open for it.
With her mind settled, Shai revisited the notifications, mulling over her newfound gains once more.
Her [Golden Eyes] had finally awakened, and at the right time no less, when her very life was threatened. Shai couldn''t hold her delight to find it was an A-grade aspect.
Shai knew there were a few things unusual in her life--yes, other than being a freaking snake--[Golden Eyes] was one of them. And it looks like she could finally get a better idea about it.
[Golden Eyes (A)
Inherited Aspect. The user is unable to display the full capability of the aspect without the Law of Light.
Nothing remains concealed from the Golden Eyes if you look at the right place. Golden Eyes enhances all perception and cognition-based capabilities. Through discerning the aura of any being or object, the Golden Eyes enables the user to read the records of the object or being.
+20 Efficiency to Mind.]
Well, this aspect certainly made [Predatory Instinct (D)] obsolete. This also explained why she could read the level of the horrifying Basilisk, which made skills like [Identification] obsolete. Good thing, she didn''t take it.
[Mental Corrosion Resistance (D)] would be invaluable, if she were to fight the hunger. It was inevitable that she would encounter those twisted creatures again¡ªwhether she liked it or not.
Her attention lingered on the tab of [Concept of Hunger]. Apparently, it was a law--whatever that meant. It gave her that powerful aspect which would make her life either easy or a living hell as she interpreted it.
She could not tell if it let her resist corruption. On the contrary, she found herself hungrier than ever. But Shai could still resist...
Aside from feeling rattled and shell-shocked, Shai bore no physical wounds, much to her relief. She was a little loony, to begin with, but she was sure a couple of hours of meditation would help settle her mind. Thus, Shai entered a state of meditation, emptying her mind of everything.
Once her mind had found its calm, Shai mulled over all her experiences since hatching.
Chapter 14 - Double-edged Sword
It became evident that the best course of action for her was to get the hell out of the harrowing dungeon. Dangerous creatures and horrors lurked within the dungeon, the spiders were horrifying enough, but then there was the colossal Lvl 119 basilisk, not to mention the horror of the corrupting hunger.
Yup, getting the hell out of this treacherous dungeon is the only way to go, Shai resolved firmly.
Unfortunately, there was a simple problem. Ever since encountering the Golden-tailed Eagle, Shai had been fleeing from one location to another, paying little attention to her surroundings. Before she knew it, she had ventured deep into a dungeon that even System Grandpa lacked any information about.
Needless to say, Shai was utterly lost and alone, surrounded by creatures that only wanted to eat her.
No, I cannot give in, Shai clenched her jaw. I am more powerful than ever, which will undoubtedly help. However, I must devise a foolproof plan to safely navigate my way out of this dungeon.
After contemplating for a few minutes, Shai realised that her weakness was her greatest strength in this predicament. Her diminutive form had always been a disadvantage, which appeared more cute than threatening. Despite her slit eyes, forked tongue, and menacing fangs capable of injecting deadly poison, she paled in comparison to the massive eight-legged abominations or even the Twisted Chilopods.
Honestly, her appearance was more disconcerting to her than to the abominations that roamed this world. To those colossal creatures, she was nothing more than a harmless-looking little snake.
However, there were certain things a small snake could do that those colossal creatures could not. For instance, she could slither into narrow holes and hide, utilising her small form to conceal herself more effectively.
With that in mind, Shai got to work, putting her ideas into a plan.
Shai''s Tunnelling System, she called it. She intended to dig her way through the dungeon wherever she ventured, constructing an intricate and elaborate network of narrow tunnels. This tunnelling system would provide her with an escape route even if she encountered horrors like the Basilisk.
While the plan seemed grand and sound in her mind, she soon discovered the difficulties a little snake faced in carving through the thick walls of the dungeon. Digging became almost an impossible task for her without the aid of primal essence.
Shai refused to give up. One thing about her was that once she set her mind to something, she''d either break or complete the task.
Two days later, after tirelessly working for hours on end, Shai had completed... a significant part of her plan. She had managed to create enough tunnels to navigate freely within a couple of square miles of the surrounding area.
Now, she decided it was time to meditate, both to rest and satiate the hunger that gnawed at her stomach.
Shai was running low on sustenance. In the end, she had fed upon the corpse of the python. But it had been more of a tactical decision than a desperate one. The hunger was constant, but Shai didn''t just stuff her little form with everything. She devoured less than what she could digest. It turns out the B-grade in [Essence Eater (B)] was just not for show.
Shai had noticed after acquiring the concept of Hunger and the aspect that whatever she consumed, seemed to be digested at a much faster rate. Even her energy and stamina were rejuvenated at a tremendous speed. Which in retrospect increased the time she could use her skills as well. Her power grew by leaps and bounds, even if there weren''t any changes in her attributes. [Empower] rose the most, standing at 53%, because digging was nearly impossible without this skill.
But what surprised her more was how easy it was to manipulate the primal essence now. With [Golden Eyes] passively boosting her perception, Shai''s essence weaving skills reached a new height. But it was a whole other story altogether when she used the A-grade skill actively.
Eventually, Shai ran out of sustenance. Thankfully, by that point, she had her escape route fixed.
For the first time, she actively partook in the hunt, initiating the ambush first. And what better opponent was she there than those hateful eight-legged weavers?If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Shai''s snake body twisted and turned, swiftly evading the Weaver Lvl 19''s attacks and skillfully manoeuvring around its legs. She didn''t forget to unleash [Arcane Shots] on her opponent, wearing it down.
Shai had already injured two of the spider''s legs, weakening it to some extent. She hadn''t landed any critical blows yet. Not that she couldn''t, she was simply getting used to battling as a snake. So far in most of her challenging battles, she came through using her wit, however, it wouldn''t be possible to outwit all the creatures she faced. That was why she was putting in all the effort.
The spider was alone and wasn''t particularly strong compared to the other one she had encountered. She had been engaged in combat for fifteen minutes, constantly evading its attacks or blocking it with [Force Shield]. Shai sustained minimal damage with her defensive skills and quick thinking. She even managed to figure out the coordination of the spider''s attacks.
Without the enhanced strength and perception provided by [Empower] and [Golden Eyes], it would have been impossible for her to keep up with the spider''s speed, endurance, and strength. Even with all the bonuses, the spider''s physical attributes surpassed her own.
Thankfully, twisted creatures or insectoids generally lacked mental capabilities, and this spider was no exception. Its intelligence was severely lacking, even when compared to the dumb snake she had killed before. Even though it was pretty clear it wasn''t getting through Shai in this conflict, it didn''t back down.
One of the spider''s legs struck the rocky ground behind her, and another leg emerged from behind, catching Shai off guard. She tried to dodge, but could only deflect the blow, and ended up being tossed into the air. Shai cursed under her breath and poured more energy into [Empower], reinforcing her defence.
Throughout the battle, Shai had conserved her use of primal essence, employing it only when necessary to evade fatal strikes. In contrast, her opponent seemed to recklessly exhaust its innate skills, acting as if it still had an unlimited reserve.
That clearly wasn''t the truth, and the spider would pay for it soon enough.
The spider made another attempt to capture Shai by shooting its sticky webs, but she managed to avoid it, retaliating with another [Force Shield]. Unwittingly, Shai opened her mouth wide and hissed at the spider ferociously as if baiting the eight-legged adversary.
The spider gave in to taunt and shot another round of webs at her. Shai had enough time and room to dodge, yet something clicked into her mind as she stuck to her spot, eyeing the incoming sticky webs. She opened her mouth wider than it was supposed to be possible.
A sudden suction force emanated from her mouth, pulling the cobweb towards it. She engulfed the cobweb in a single gulp, as realisation dawned on her. Essence eater.
What the hell is this ability? Shai didn''t have time to ponder, feeling a strange sense of disgust in herself for not feeling disgusted at eating the cobweb. Had she lost her mind already?
Her stomach bloated, undulating uncomfortably as the eaten cobweb compressed inside her in mere seconds.
[Essence Eater] was one of the most extreme powers; considering how she got the aspect, it made sense. But that didn''t mean she liked it. She could faintly feel that Hunger had the power to place one at the top of the food chain or reduce her to a mindless hungry beast.
It was a double-edged sword, Shai thought, recalling. Power often, her father had described to her once, lacks ingenuity and overflows with insatiable greed. It''s a sword that cuts both ends.
If given a choice, Shai would have never chosen such an incredulous power, but circumstances had left her with no other option. Oddly enough, she could sense that her energy reserve was recovering since she had eaten the sticky web. Disgusting it might seem, but it was damn useful too.
The webs were composed of mostly primal essences, proteins and acids. Digesting it wouldn''t pose any issues, although she couldn''t say she enjoyed the experience.
With a swift lurch of her body, Shai coiled her tail and charged at the spider once again, shooting for its glowing red eyes. She nearly toppled the massive arachnid, biting its eyes out, but it managed to regain balance using its remaining legs. It had too many legs even after she damaged two of them.
In a world where some beings were born without limbs (Shai herself), here was this vile creature flaunting all eight of them. Hissing in frustration at the injustice, Shai retaliated, shoving a [Force Shield] into its remaining legs, off-balancing the creature. She followed up by shooting [Arcane shots] at its eyes.
I can''t believe I''m jealous of a freaking spider.
The spider emitted a high-pitched squeak, a couple of its eyes rendered blind.
Jesus, why are you screaming? Shai hissed. You have many to spare.
Getting the chance, Shai didn''t wait ceremoniously. She leapt onto its head and bit off another of its eyes. She unleashed a barrage of [Arcane Shots] into its head, they dug in, enough to make them count.
Eventually, Shai managed to pierce through its head. The spider thrashed about in a frenzy, crashing into the sidewall and toppling over, yet it continued to struggle, flailing its legs in all directions. It struggled for a while, but exhausted and wounded, it couldn''t fight its fate anymore.
[You have slain Empathic Weaver Lvl 19.]
Chapter 15 - Empathic Weaver
[You have slain Empathic Weaver Lvl 19.]
Unlike the twisted weaver, this one seemed to be a different variant. "Empathic" seemed to imply a connection with emotions, not that this spider displayed any other emotion apart from their insatiable hunger.
Perhaps if she stayed inside the dungeon for longer or went deeper, she would find out more. However, Shai had no intention of venturing deeper into the dungeon. Without Shai''s Tunnelling System (yes, she''s still calling it that, don''t judge), it was already suicidal to stay in the dungeon.
Her worry soon puffed away with the delightful voice of System Grandpa.
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 10. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
Finally, her level had reached the double digits. Now she just lacked 109 levels more to compete with that corrupt basilisk.
Just as Shai gathered herself, her [Golden Eyes] sensed some disturbance from the rear. Creeping a little closer, she discovered a deep orange rank, faintly weaker than the prey she slew just now. Perhaps it would be an easy kill, but She decided to retreat this time around, being a little nauseous from eating those disgusting slimy webs.
Shai navigated through the familiar tunnels she dug through to escape from the approaching creature. She was supposed to meditate, but the unpleasant taste in her stomach didn''t let her.
Before she knew it, her slender serpent body convulsed, her stomach undulating uncomfortably. Shai reeled and drew out from the hole, unable to hold back the sudden urge to vomit.
Reversing the effect of [Essence Eater], Shai expulsed horrid white slimy goo out of her mouth. She coughed and retched for several seconds, expelling the remnants of the cobweb she had consumed. It appeared that not everything was digestible, even if it was mentioned otherwise in the description of [Essence Eater].
Perhaps it was because her level was low. Pushing those disgusting feelings away, she moved into a meditative state.
She imagined the energy flowing inside her body, like water streaming down from a waterfall. It calmed her a lot, but she wasn''t at peace. The warm power swirled inside her, giving her a drunken, woozy feeling.
She had two choices ahead of her. Let be consumed by Hunger and let it dictate her life, or become the master of that power. Needless to say, the latter was way harder, but Shai didn''t think twice to choose this path.
Nobody... can compel me to anything.
As long as she was diligent and true to herself, nothing could compel her to do anything
***
Shai sang wistfully in her mind as she battled the damned spiders. For all her attempts to keep her mood bright, she was starving. Her hunger made it too hard to keep her bloodlust from bursting out.
Shai slew her fifth in the battle, waiting for a Level-up notification to pop up along with Grandpa''s congratulating words. A disgruntled hiss escaped her mouth, as she received nothing of the sort.
Even after killing the remaining two foes, she didn''t receive the level-up notification, much to her dismay.
To add to her misery, these spiders taste like horse shit, not that she ever tasted horse shit, but she was damn sure it couldn''t be worse than these spiders. Perhaps the corruption played a role in that as well.
Hmm, will I be able to grow my [Mental Corrosion Resistance] if I keep on ingesting these tainted meals?
Come on, Grandpa, Shai whined. After all the horrors I faced, I deserved an answer.
Only a whisper of indignant screech answered her.
No, Grandpa-- Shai started moving without looking where the screech came from. It wasn''t her Grandpa.
A humongous spider, easily three metres tall, dropped out of nowhere. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[Empathic Spider - Corrupt Weaver Level 47]
It attacked her with its sharp appendages, unannounced. Shai''s mind reeled back as she slithered away, evading the attacks. She channelled [Golden Eyes], [Empower], and even formed a barrier of [Force Shield] behind her as she shot towards the nearest entry to Shai''s Tunnelling System.
The huge spider''s presence was ominous, alright, but something about it felt familiar. It was too similar to the one she fled from and dropped into the corrupt pool. An overwhelming urge for vengeance crashed down on her.
Shai had to clench her jaw to see the reasons. Even with her improved stats and abilities, Shai barely felt like she had narrowed the gap between them.
She could have a little contest with it first before fleeing into her tunnels, but she didn''t engage in any form of combat other than what was necessary for her escape. She was, after all, famished, prone to bloodlust and the thrill of a challenge at this moment. What if she was unable to keep it under the leash?
Better to bugger off into her hole, than to test her fate.
See you around, Ugly, Shai taunted as her head slipped into the hole which was almost as big as a human head. It grew narrower the more she moved inside. Yeah, dumb ugly spider. Come get me, but beware this one bites.
Well, even if the spider managed to dig through the rugged stone somehow--which was an arduous task, considering Shai''s Tunnelling System was pretty complex--all she had to do was move out of the other side. It would take her a few minutes, while for the spider, it would be hours.
Shai went a dozen metres inside until she reached a broader space where she could finally rest safely. Spouting nonsense at the spider, she let it do whatever it pleased.
If it wanted to waste its energy to dig through and become exhausted, perhaps Shai could help its way to eternal rest, but she didn''t think she was that lucky.
The monstrous spider tried to dig through the rugged stony earth to reach Shai. It clearly showed no sign of stopping as Shai calmed down, adopting a meditative state.
On second thought, perhaps she could deal with this creature.
Shai fired a couple of [Arcane Shots], each laced with a potent poison that sent a clear message to the creature: any further attempts would come at a cost. The attack seemed to only infuriate the weaver more as it pressed on with newfound power.
Time dragged on, but the spider persisted even under the barrage of Shai''s [Arcane Shot]. It managed to make some headway, but its movements were growing sluggish as well. Possibly, the poison taking effect, or it was simply exhausted. Whatever it was, Shai was looking forward to beating this corrupted shit.
Even with its high level, it didn''t seem to grasp any nuanced primal essence weaving skill, but its form was as hard as a boulder. Only the basilisk she met near the Tainted pool was stronger than this creature in sheer physical force.
However, even with all that power, it wasn''t putting them to good use. The creature lacked a fully functioning brain for that. Alas! The corruption only made it more savage than anything else. If it really persisted for some more time, I may really stand a chance.
However, her moment of triumph quickly turned into a chilling realisation. A sudden and piercing squeak reverberated in her mind, sending shivers down her spine. The spider stopped thumping its leg into the hole, but now it was directly thumping into her mind.
Mental Attack?! Shai cursed, channelling Mental Corrosion Resistance which managed to stand a fragile wall of defence against the attack. It barely left her with a functioning mind under the mental stress of the attack.
Summoning all her mental fortitude, Shai swiftly erected an imaginary wall, hoping to fend off the impending assault on her sanity. The shrill assault on her mind intensified, causing visible cracks to form in Shai''s imaginary mental wall.
Despite her efforts, she knew that without proper training, her mental defence was subpar at best, insufficient against this threat.
Shai summoned every ounce of willpower she possessed, fortifying her defence. However, it was a futile struggle against the relentless onslaught of the spider''s mental attack.
How the hell did such a dull creature have such mental power? Shai didn''t know. She only knew she had to flee right at this moment, or her mind would break. Shai''s grip on her sanity grew weaker by the second, and she knew she couldn''t endure much longer.
Anger surged within her, mingling with frustration and fear. Shai whizzed a primal scream, her voice echoing through the depths of her mind.
Get the fuck out of my head, you eight-legged pest!
Shai started to slither away, enough though the pain was wrecking her brain, making her body dysfunctional. Her crawl was like that of a snail, each muscle twitched under the torment her nerves were going through.
Shai noticed a significant drop in the intensity of the mental attack after her outburst. Strengthening her mental fortitude with whatever she left, Shai racked her brain, shouting repeated words as if under some strange spell.
My mind is my own! Get the fuck out! Get the hell out! My mind is my own! ... It is nothing compared to the torment of Corruption... you cannot break me!
Once again, the mental shrill struck her mind, but this time it felt like a gentle knock, more like a polite request than an aggressive assault, as if asking her to open the door to her mind.
What?! Confusion gripped Shai as the knock persisted, raising suspicions in her mind. Shai clearly wasn''t buying into this convoluted way to get into her head.
Then her suspicions were cleared with a notification from System Grandpa.
[Serenity wants to form a temporary telepathic link with you.]
[Accept | Decline]
Chapter 16 - A Talk between Fellow Monsters
Shai halted in the tunnel, even though the mental pressure was retracted, leaving her open to flee. A spider monster wanted to form a telepathic link? Could it even speak?
Shai was curious, more than being terrified, actually. Unwittingly, her mind drew closer to accept the prompt.
Well, only one way to find out. Shai accepted the telepathic link while ensuring her protective mental barrier remained intact.
"What... are... you?" a high-pitched voice resounded within Shai''s mind instantly, leaving her baffled. On the other side of her mental wall, a shadowy figure of a spider materialised, its form too blurred to discern any details, but it clearly wasn''t the one that assaulted her earlier.
[Serenity - Empathic Spider - ??? Lvl 87]
Holy hell! she swore and fought to keep her inner turmoil and surprise inside. This detestable eight-legged pest wasn''t far away from that colossal basilisk. Well, this one was shorter than the predator after her. Clearly, it wasn''t like the mindless spider that only wanted to eat her. Wait, it has a name? Serenity?
"Can you comprehend my words?" it transferred again, each word jotting out a perfect syllable, though it was a language she never learned. The spider''s tone didn''t seem menacing. It piqued her curiosity.
"I can comprehend your words," Shai responded through the telepathic link, created by the Empathic Spider.
"Answer my question," the voice transmitted again, its coherence improving. "What are you?"
Shai answered, before thinking through. "I am Shai, a perfectly sophisticated and intelligent being who is thoroughly displeased with your manners." Shai''s confidence radiated from her response, laced with a hint of cockiness. "Also, isn''t it me who should be asking that question? What are you?"
"I am a Guardian of the Gate," the spider replied.
"A watchman, huh?" Shai mused. "Well, what exactly are you guarding?"
The spider ignored her question, focusing instead on its own inquiry. "What are your intentions for coming here?"
Shai''s retorted defiantly. "I won''t answer unless you address my question first."
"What are your intentions for coming here?" The empathic spider repeated its question, and this time, there was a distinct edge to its voice, indicating that it might not remain polite if Shai didn''t answer.
Sighing, Shai composed her thoughts. This was the first genuine conversation she was having after her death, and though her conversational partner was strange and demanding, she decided to answer. She could be forgiving at times.
"No reason in particular," she replied calmly. "A stupid bird chased after me, and I ended up in this place."
"You''re not here to trespass into the Gate?" the Guardian of the Gate inquired further.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Curiosity piqued, Shai wanted to know more about this gate now. "What''s inside the gate?"
Serenity ignored her question and continued with its interrogation. "Why have you infuriated my clansmen?"
"Infuriated?" Shai snorted in exasperation. She channelled her inner pompousness and said: "Are you kidding me? They are the ones who want to eat me alive! They chased after me, seeking to claim this young lady''s life for no grievances at all. All I did was defend myself from getting devoured. This little lady has been merciful so far."
The Empathetic Spider was silent for a while. "You misunderstood," it, he, she, they¡ªwhatever its pronouns might be¡ªsaid. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with you. I can feel it from dozens of metres away. You¡¯re a danger to yourself and my clan. It would be better if you leave this cavern as soon as possible.¡±
Shai snorted, clearly not buying the spider''s word. "There''s nothing wrong with me. It''s the other way around. Can you tell me what''s going on with your spider kind? Not just spiders, but everything I''ve encountered so far¡ªnone seemed to be the friendly type. Why were they so eager to devour me, as if they hadn''t eaten in months?"
Shai clearly knew the answer. Corruption. She simply wanted to see if she could fish out more information.
For several moments, silence hung in the air, as the Guardian hesitated to share the truth. "You must understand one thing about us, the Empathetic Spider clan," it transmitted. "As much as we sustain ourselves on air, water, and food, and primal essence, emotions are like delicacies to us. Your appearance is like a beacon of those delicacies. Too much raw emotions, grieving, anger, hunger. Even I, who awakened the Concept of Empathy and could control it adequately, feel the urge to capture you, and keep you to myself."
Shai felt a chill running down her spine as the true nature of the empathic spiders became clearer to her. So, they could sense emotions and feed on them, but not everything added up. She had been keeping her emotions tightly concealed. Hadn''t she?
The spider continued, delving deeper into its assessment. "There''s a dangerous, intoxicating vibe in your emotions," it explained. "Too much negativity, frustration, anger, rage, helplessness, and a deep sense of hunger. Almost as if... you have His touch on you."
The spider''s telepathic transmission was accompanied by the unsettling sound of swallowing, deliberately or unintentionally, causing Shai to shudder involuntarily.
"You''re carrying deep wounds that you haven''t made peace with," the spider continued. "And there''s something else that intensifies my struggle to control myself. Could it be that chaotic Hunger I''ve been sensing since our conversation began? Perhaps you can come out and let me examine you properly."
Shai started to crawl again, ever so slowly, building the power to crawl as swiftly as she could at any moment.
"Shai, was it?" the spider addressed her in a tone that carried unsettling intelligence. "You may consider yourself a perfectly sophisticated and intelligent being, but there''s more to you than that. How about¡ª"
The spider abruptly fell silent. Shai''s mind grew colder, wondering if the spider had detected her escape attempt. Uncertain of its intentions, she increased her pace.
"It appears that you''re not the only one trespassing into our clan," the spider transmitted, its voice growing softer. Shai sensed its presence fading away. "While I would have preferred to capture you for certain reasons, my rational mind warns against such a decision, particularly when it concerns the males of my clan. Your emotions affected me profusely, indicating the need for further training to resist irrational impulses. . .
"But above all, I am bound by orders I must obey. Consider this an opportunity to leave, if you can."
"I would be delighted too," Shai said as the link broke. "You wouldn''t happen to have a map of this region, would you?"
But by that point, the link was already severed, and the Spider was gone.
Shai was once again left alone to contemplate her life choices.
Interlude I - Isla
INTERLUDE - I
ISLA
Isla stretched her limbs as she came out of her meditative state. Zael returned after scouting and sat opposite her, leaning against the cold rocky wall, his gaze fixed upon Isla. The log fire provided enough light for him to see her, but he kept on squinting at her. Probably to find out if her state got better or not.
This was a problem with an elf companion. Elves, especially the healer among them, possessed an uncanny ability to detect even the slightest signs of illness or distress, simply noticing subtle changes in breathing patterns or the change in skin colour.
So very terrible of them. They made it nigh impossible to feign good health when you''re hurting. Isla knew she couldn''t blame him, but looking at that concerned look in his eyes, reminded her of her feeble condition.
"How are you feeling?" Zael asked, as if he couldn''t tell.
"Better," Isla replied.
Zael was a tall fellow with a fairly muscular build, a rather imposing look for a healer, though healing wasn''t the only art he was good at. Beyond his mastery over spirit art, his striking golden hair, elegantly extended ears, chiselled jawline and piercing blue eyes were capable of leaving most girls blushing to their ears. His face was a little pale and reddish with exhaustion, along with the bits of beard that grew on his chin like fuzz. It needed immediate shaving. Sadly, he hadn''t got that time in the last couple of weeks. Coupled with that,
The crackling log fire provided a shred of warmth to their weary spirits within the cold and desolate dungeon. The air was stagnant, and even the natural energy currents seemed disrupted since their arrival. Even the system couldn''t provide any information regarding that.
A few days ago, both of them had been afflicted with poison, dining in an inn. Their pursuers had coerced the innkeeper into serving the toxic substance in their meal. Fortunately, Zael''s extensive knowledge of healing arts enabled him to quickly identify the poison and cleanse himself of its effects.
However, the situation was far direr for Isla. She didn''t have the strong vitality or immunity the same as an elf, and after the toxin took root in her system, it was too hard for Zael to provide immediate healing.
All these dark signs were enough to stop them from this assignment on any other day. Unfortunately, they were not here for some amusement or adventure. They were people in dire need.
Their situation had improved significantly since they escaped the pursuit of the men. Zael was able to apply his expertise to Isla, finally improving her condition.
Although the poison still coursed through Isla''s veins, it was an improvement from when the toxin rendered her in worse shape than any mortal girl. She owed it all to Zael. Without Zael''s aid, an ordinary healer wouldn''t have been able to save her.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The poison, supposedly derived from a Silver-ranked Phantom Toad, possessed the uncanny ability to restrict all spiritual and spirit abilities and rendered the physical body paralysed. If Zael had been affected, their chances of survival would have been nigh impossible.
Isla felt a mix of gratitude and guilt for all the troubles she had brought upon her companion. However, it wasn''t time for wallowing in guilt. She had a task to complete.
Isla sighed unconsciously and stopped those thoughts from affecting her. Shaking her head, she shifted her gaze to Zael.
"Did you discover anything noteworthy during your scouting?" Isla asked.
Zael shook her head. "Nothing specific," he replied. "However, I did encounter spiders. There''s something seriously wrong with them."
"What exactly?" Isla probed further.
"I cannot say for certain. They exhibited murderous frenzy and madness, unlike anything I''d encountered before. Even the other creatures I came across displayed similar behaviour. Whatever the cause, it seems to stem from the core of this dungeon."
Isla nodded as she got lost in her thoughts. Investigating and identifying the source of the disturbance was probably a part of her mission. The Hanbad Rainforest sprawled across tens of thousands of square miles, and it had taken them over a month of arduous journeying to reach their current location. The perils they encountered along the way were not to be dismissed lightly. If they were to return empty-handed, or worse, fall into the clutches of their pursuer... Isla sighed in apprehension.
She couldn''t see herself going back empty-handed, or without anything solid.
Zael literally had to fight his family just to come with her on this foolish mission. She was grateful to him for that. While many elves had left their paradise due to various problems, they still clung to their conservative customs. They didn''t mingle with humans, nor were they a fan of human customs.
Unfortunately, Zael hailed from one of the ancient elf lineages that stubbornly clung to these outdated ways. His clan would shun him for this. For her.
"What do you plan to do about Javi?" Zael asked after hesitating for a moment.
"What about him?" Isla replied, her tone devoid of any emotion.
"Javi," Zael reminded her, "is likely in a worse condition than us."
"And?"
¡°He needs our help¡± Zael gave her that look that told her she could be better than this. Isla hated that look.
"I didn''t drag him here. He came of his own accord, to ruin my chance of success."
"You don''t know that," Zael sighed. "Come on, Isla. He''s your brother."
"No," Isla responded without hesitation. "He''s not."
Zael gave her that look again.
Isla grunted and rose to her feet. "I don''t have the time or luxury to help him at the moment, even if he''s alive," she said, pacing within the limited space. "However, I feel like our paths will intertwine if he''s truly alive. After I''m done with this place, we can save him. We''ll drag his sorry ass back home, and then he''ll leave me at peace to deal with my own affairs."
A smug grin tugged at the corners of Zael''s lips.
"Wipe that smile off your face, Zael. It doesn''t suit you," Isla lied, averting her gaze.
Another inconvenience of having this elf companion by her side.
Chapter 17 - Serenity
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SERENITY
Serenity''s eight legs moved in perfect synchronisation as she swiftly crossed the terrain. Shooting multiple strands of webs onto the wall, she used them to ascend from the deep pit, swinging through the air with grace and precision.
The pit was too high to be scaled with just one or two shots of her cobwebs. It required over half a dozen attempts to successfully climb up. Midnight, with her superior speed and abilities, might have managed it in just a couple of shots. But she wasn''t Midnight.
Fortunately, this particular section of the cavern was devoid of other members of their spider clan, especially those increasingly erratic male halves. Serenity could swing freely without the risk of colliding with someone else, saving her precious time by relying on her webs instead of painstakingly climbing with her legs.
Yet it did little to ease the pressure of being late.
"You''re late," a voice resonated in her mind as Serenity landed beside another empathic spider similar to her size. One and a half metres tall, hardly among the tallest of their clan, but they were the elites.
The other spider, Elegy, was matted in a deep shade of brown, with legs that appeared as if carved from obsidian. Born in the same generation as Serenity, Elegy seemed to hold a morbid fascination with outliving herself, constantly underlining the significance of every wasted moment. It came as nothing but nagging into Serenity''s senses.
"By twelve minutes," Elegy transmitted, glancing at the device--humans called a "watch"--strapped to her right second leg. It was a memento she had received from their former leader long ago, in recognition of her bravery in thwarting a group of humans attempting to intrude upon their home.
"You cling to human trinkets a bit too much," Serenity remarked, sending an empathic sensation of disapproval through their link. She had learned it from Midnight. Well, most of their mannerisms were either learned or mimicked from Midnight. "Perhaps soon you''ll be the one requesting to leave home, just like Silence did."
Elegy displayed no interest or inclination to refute Serenity''s accusation. "You''re trying to deflect attention from your own misconduct," she stated, conveying the same disapproving manner. Serenity had to admit that Elegy''s imitation of that tone came across as more natural than her. Of course, Elegy had spent every moment disproving her behaviour. "Unfortunately for you, you forgot, I didn''t fall for your false accusations for months."
"Yeah, sorry." Serenity crackled with her mandibles. "I stumbled upon something fascinating. You wouldn''t believe it if I didn''t show it to you. I almost regret leaving it behind for this."
"No, you just wanted to rub it on me," Elegy responded, maintaining her usual level tone. "Say that to Midnight if you dare."
Serenity emitted nervous exasperation through their telepathic connection.
"Let''s go, Midnight is waiting," Elegy replied, as she started moving without explaining further.
Serenity groaned telepathically to Elegy as she followed. She didn''t need to do that, but it was always amusing to remind her forever-tidy sister. Of course, her tidy sister remained unfazed by the reminder. However, Serenity has something that would pique the interest of her indifferent sibling. Well, it might rattle her to the core.
"I received an edict from Mother," she added, snickering to herself.
Elegy halted abruptly and turned towards Serenity. "You''re lying."
"I don''t lie about Mother," Serenity transmitted with a wave of sternness.
"You? Out of all people, why would Mother even contact you?" Elegy stirred with disbelief. Her agitation was everything Serenity lived for.
Serenity revelled internally but maintained an indifferent expression. "The important thing is that Mother didn''t contact you."
Yes, that was what truly mattered. Elegy had been striving relentlessly to reach their Mother, who had remained silent and elusive for years. Something was amiss within their home, and they had only just begun to take notice. However, their mother should have foreseen it long ago.
Naturally, Elegy desired to contact their mother not only to inquire about their home but also to challenge certain rules that seemed foolish to her or implement improvements to enhance their workflow. It was difficult for her to believe what Serenity was claiming now.
After all, she was astounded that the most irresponsible member of their ranks had received an order from Mother.
Serenity moved forward, basking in her own triumph, leaving Elegy with her mandibles hanging open in bafflement.
"Even if Mother did contact you," Elegy said, joining Serenity''s side, "it would likely be to reprimand you for your faults and misconduct."
"You wish," Serenity retorted. Their mother rarely punished them for their misconduct. As long as it remained within the bounds of their duty, she simply reminded them of their actions and left them to suffocate in their guilt. However, that had changed since Silence left.
Serenity couldn''t contain her excitement after finally receiving revelations from their mother and being entrusted with a duty. Well, perhaps a little of her excitement stemmed from Elegy''s frustration. Nope, a lot from my dear sister''s frustration.
Her orderly sister must be screaming internally, desperate to know what their mother had assigned to Serenity. Serenity wished she could experience it through their mental link. However, Elegy was never careless in her skills, especially when it came to empathetic defence.
Well, for now, Serenity was content witnessing her sister''s frustration displayed outwardly.
They moved to meet their chief, who probably had been waiting for them for a while.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Midnight was one remarkable spider sister. She was a work of art. Unlike the two of them, Midnight had a silvery hue with scattered brownish spots in her captivating form, as if sculpted from the finest marble. She was slightly smaller, standing a foot or two shorter than them, but her stature did not diminish her formidable presence. The smaller size only enhanced her agility and dexterity, which were crucial for her expertise. The elongated pair of sickle-like legs in front of her testified to that.
Midnight sensed their presence through the mental link as soon as they approached within a hundred metres, yet she didn''t bother to turn towards them.
"Oh, it''s not getting any easier," she noted, gazing at another pit filled with spiderwebs intertwined all around.
This particular pit wasn''t as deep or long, spanning only about half a mile, but with the multitude of webs spread throughout, making death from falling into it nigh impossible. Numerous smaller spiders, and juveniles, were playing and learning in the pit. Midnight, Elegy, Serenity, they all once had been there as well, playing to their heart''s content without an inkling of the responsibilities they would shoulder on this day.
Finally, Midnight turned, giving the pit one last glance. "There are a few trespassers who have entered our home," she disclosed, "and from the signs, it''s clear they harbour no good intentions."
"We have more important news than that," Elegy interjected, gesturing towards Serenity. "Serenity, why don''t you share what you told me on the way?"
Serenity stepped forward, meeting Midnight''s intense gaze with multiple eyes fixed on her. Amidst the scrutiny of her sisters, she announced, "Mother contacted me."
"What?!" Midnight exclaimed as all eight of her eyes locked onto Serenity. "When did this happen? What does Mother want from you?"
It took a couple of seconds for Midnight to realise she lost her composure. That was not an undesirable display, considering the values she had instilled in them. A superior should always display composure, even when she isn''t.
Supposedly, this was a teaching passed down by their Mother. However, Serenity and Elegy had not been directly taught by Mother. They belonged to the ninetieth generation, while Mother had quit teachings after the fifth generation. Midnight and Solace were the sole remaining members of the original five generations. As for the others, they didn''t talk about them.
Well, Serenity believed them to be dead. Even if they evolved into superior Empathic spiders, and reached a higher realm of cultivation, they couldn''t live for more than a few centuries. Besides, external threats occasionally invaded their home, reducing their numbers more than natural causes ever could.
"Well," Elegy prompted, bringing Serenity''s attention back to the topic.
"Yes," Serenity composed her mind. "It happened before I arrived here. I was exploring the southern side of the cavern, following a trail that seemed suspicious. As I investigated further, it turned out to be even more peculiar than I had initially assumed."
"What is it?" Midnight fixed her gaze on Serenity, detecting an excessive amount of excitement in her voice.
"You wouldn''t believe me if I told you," Serenity replied. "It''s a small snake, not even at copper rank, but I found it to be odd from every angle I looked into it. I engaged in a full conversation with it and discovered that it likely came from some high lines among serpentine creatures. However, what troubled me the most was the overwhelming presence of negative emotions emanating from it."
"I apologise" Elegy interjected, "but where does Mother fit into all of this?"
"I''m sorry," Serenity retorted with the same tone of annoyance, "but if this conversation bores you, feel free to leave."
Elegy bit her mandibles in frustration.
"Enough," Midnight intervened. "Serenity, please continue."
"Yes, where was I? Oh yes, that snake¡ª she revealed her name and seemed far too intelligent for a mere hatchling. Furthermore, the intensity of those emotions felt..." --she wanted to say delicious, but all she said was-- "wrong."
"She?"
"Her?"
Midnight and Elegy asked in unison.
"Yes," Serenity continued, "I launched a mental assault on the snake after discovering that it was in an impasse with one of the chaotic male spiders. It-- She resisted my attack for a brief moment, showing resilience that exceeded my expectations. While I may not possess Elegy''s expertise in mental combat, I am more than capable of handling a mere hatchling. However, what truly surprised me was realising that the snake possessed her own defence mechanisms against mental attacks."
"So, did you eliminate it?" Elegy asked.
"No," Serenity replied. "I was in the midst of conversing with the snake when Mother contacted me. She instructed me to leave it be. Mother specifically emphasised on ignoring ''calling the snake "her". However. I think the latter part of her directive held more significance in our situations."
Both her sister and elder looked at her with anticipation.
"Mother told us to wrap up our current tasks and enter the gate when it opens."
"Is that all?" Elegy asked, clearly not satisfied with just that.
"No," Serenity transferred, recalling. "Mother also informed me about two other trespassers and urged us to let them be."
Midnight interjected, "Wait, two trespassers? I located three, and they were all of the Iron ranks."
Serenity eyed her elder in confusion.
"Perhaps¡ª"
"No," Midnight interrupted Elegy, her tone unwavering. "Mother doesn''t make mistakes, nor have I made an error in my assessment."
"In that case," Elegy reasoned, "there may be more trespassers beyond our knowledge. Serenity, did Mother mention anything else?"
"No," Serenity confirmed.
The trio exchanged glances, and Midnight turned her attention to the pit where the juvenile spiders were engrossed in their playful activities. Meanwhile, Elegy chattered her mandibles together, a habit borne out of her frustration. It was something Elegy couldn''t stop when she couldn''t find a solution.
Serenity failed to grasp the severity of the situation. While humans occasionally ventured into their territory with malicious intent, their home remained relatively secluded. Most intruders consisted of other creatures attempting to intrude upon their domain, claim their resources and kill their kind. However, apart from those malicious humans, few posed a genuine challenge to their abilities.
Serenity could only recall an instance, more than a decade ago, when humans came cordially. It was some queen of the humans--Serenity wasn''t sure--who had the honour of meeting Mother.
Mother instructed Serenity to disregard the two trespassers, yet Midnight discovered no trace of them during her search. Instead, she encountered three others whom she determined to be threats to their livelihood. And then, there was that snake.
"The gate is scheduled to open in seven nights," Midnight said, breaking the silence. "During this time, our priority is to deal with the three iron-ranked humans."
Serenity and Elegy exchanged nervous glances. They had faced iron-ranked adversaries before and emerged victorious, but the encounters always came at a cost. However, now they were strong as ever. Even still, their reliance on Midnight was greater than ever.
Chapter 18 - Murdery
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TWISTED LUCK
Bewildered, Shai remained in her secluded hole for hours. Her [Golden Eyes] wasn''t omniscient, far from it, considering she lacked a vital part of its power. The point was that higher-ranked spirit creatures could bypass her detection wittingly or unwittingly, leaving her to question whether the spider had truly left.
It felt inappropriate to refer to the intelligent creature as an "it". The spider was a female, evident by her mention of the male kinds of the spider clan specifically.
Could it be that the male Empathic Spiders were less adept at controlling their empathic nature? They sure seemed dull and murdery to Shai. This seemed plausible, given that many insectoids and other species operated under matriarchal structures where females held significant power. Here it was intelligence, it seemed.
But on that note... I too am becoming more murdery...
It was unclear whether it was due to her death or simply because of her growing power, but Shai was changing, in more ways than she would like or have control over. It wasn''t simply because she had no other option than to hunt and gather resources.
No, there was a cold satisfaction. A thrill. A hunger. It wasn''t simply hunger for food, the more powerful she became the more prone to the thrill she was becoming.
The thrill of the battle excited her to an inconceivable extent. And it only grew with every successful hunt.
In the back of her mind, she wasn''t ready to leave this dungeon, even though a wrong step could cause her death.
An insane part of her craved for this thrill, like a moth to the flame¡ªto hunt prey stronger and bigger than herself, to feed on their fear, and revel in the exhilaration of the hunt. Shai was well aware that most of these desires stemmed from her snake form.
Snakes were inherently predatory creatures. They are reptiles, even the smallest and weakest among them knew how to stalk their prey, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Shai had become one of those creatures.
She was genuinely beginning to relish the sensation of hunting, not just to satiate her insatiable hunger, but for the sheer thrill and excitement it brought her. She knew it was concerning and mostly kept it inside of her with her lunacy, but it was getting out of her control with the thrill of every fight.
Maybe this is some side-effect of corruption, Shai thought and shook her head, reeling back in her hole. Or it is the Concept of Hunger.
Or was she in a state of denial?
Shai''s certainty wavered as she contemplated the strange reality she found herself in this brand new world. A world full of magical beasts that were intelligent enough to converse telepathically. A world where killing was rewarded...
All this was a completely unprecedented experience, for a girl who stayed sequestered in between walls all her life.
Shai''s determination to escape grew stronger. Not just the hole, but the whole dungeon. The encounter with the empathic spider left her with a lingering sense of unease. Unless she grew in cultivation exponentially, she couldn''t see herself escaping unscathed if she encountered them again.
The question remained: What course of action should she take? Should she leave the hole or wait to observe how the situation unfolded? Despite being allowed to leave after the interrogation, Shai hated being manipulated by others. Well, the spider didn''t seem to have many reasons to lie to her. Even still...
The Empathetic Spider seemed preoccupied with other matters. Considering the corruption infested this dungeon, why wouldn''t she be? Unless she was tainted too.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Serenity didn''t seem so, but what did a little hatchling like her know?
Would the guardian even spare a thought for a seemingly insignificant, yet intriguing, snake? Regardless, if what the spider said held any truth, Shai was in deep water. If she really was the trigger for driving the spiders into a frenzy...
Beyond the threats, what unsettled Shai the most was the spider''s insight into her emotional well-being.
What does she know? Shai questioned with a hint of ridicule. Perhaps the spider had said all that merely to gain an edge over her.
Shai needed to consider her next steps carefully.
For hours on end, Shai meditated within the confines of her hole after the departure of the sassy empathic spider. Her resources lasted her another day, until she finally had to leave the safe confines of Shai''s Tunnelling System again.
***
Shai had her tongue out, detecting any vile scent in the air, even though it proved to be unreliable at times. Finally, after detecting nothing ominous, the small, pristine white snake came out of her hole and slithered across the rugged terrain, her movements slow and cautious.
Shai was paranoid, and she had reason to be. All the experiences from her death to the events that led her here only fueled her paranoia to a new height. Yes, she had grown stronger, but the danger grew exponentially along with her as well.
Paranoid, Shai didn''t intend to do anything rash. Perhaps there was something ominous hidden in the surrounding area. She would never know.
It turned out, her paranoia wasn''t unwarranted. Her tongue detected a musky scent of blood and gore not far away. But then again, this seemed to be a common occurrence here.
Shai became vigilant, her eyes darting everywhere as she moved slowly to finally stumble upon an eight-legged spider''s corpse.
An eerie silence held in the air as the towering monster lay dead, its head gruesomely mutilated while the rest of its body remained mostly intact. The ease with which it had been dealt with hinted that its demise came from a formidable foe.
Intrigued, Shai inched closer to the corpse, examining it to search for any residual traces of primal essence. Unfortunately, hours had passed since the spider''s demise, leaving no residual energy for Shai to notice.
But what surprised her was how tough its skin was, clearly a grade above the strongest spider she killed. This one could be a D-ranked creature.
Her stomach rumbled on the cue, but she wasn''t stupid enough to begin devouring the higher-ranked corpse, leaving her safety in jeopardy. Shai had to knock reason into her head to leave it for later.
After a moment of hesitation, she stored the corpse in her Inventory. She was certainly blessed to have such a boon.
Boon, Shai thought. Doesn''t it sound like it is gifted from some other being? Some godly being? Was that you, Grandpa? or was it the Kismet fellow?
Shai knew she wouldn''t receive an answer, so she moved on to what was important.
Considering the corrupted creatures that inhabited this place, it seemed unlikely that they would leave any corpse untouched. So, it wasn''t them. That brought her back to the empathic spider she encountered earlier. No, it couldn''t have been responsible for killing its own kind and abandoning the corpse.
Realising that she only had limited clues and wasn''t likely to reach any conclusions, Shai decided not to dwell on the matter further.
Yet in a tragically comedic twist, she stumbled upon a dozen more spider and centipede corpses within just a few minutes as she crept ahead. Obviously, she dutifully looted the remains. Unfortunately, Inventory didn''t give her unlimited free space, so reluctantly she had to leave behind a bunch of them...
Hey, Gramps, is there some subscription service to increase the space?
Of course, her important question remained unanswered.
After scrutinising several more corpses, Shai arrived at a conclusion ¨C the perpetrator or perpetrators behind these killings were likely humans. Of course, it could be some rogue empathic spider, she couldn''t help but entertain the possibility.
With the level of intelligence, Serenity showed her, it was entirely possible for her to perform this.
However, the cleanliness of these recent killings puzzled her. It seemed far too precise to be done by a creature of chaos. Although the spider has sharp appendages, most of these marks looked like from a blade.
Shai couldn''t help but recall the mercenary men she had encountered shortly after hatching. Those skilled individuals of higher rank could easily be the culprits.
She received her confirmation soon enough as she stumbled upon them fighting a horde of tainted creatures.
Oh, boy! Am I a magnet or what?
Chapter 19 - Higher Power
CHAPTER NINETEEN
HIGHER POWER
Oh, boy! Am I a magnet or what? Somehow she kept attracting too many higher-ranking entities towards herself. It was too abnormal. Or was she just being narcissistic?
Well, that must be it. After all, the mercenary didn''t even notice her presence, and that spider even told her to leave in a condescending tone. Yup, it''s all in my head.
Should I just leave the dungeon?
It would take her days to navigate through the dark dungeon to find a way out. But that seemed like the wise thing to do. There was no point in risking her life amidst the potential conflict of higher rankers or getting involved in a place full of corruption. It was time to be a smart reptile and prioritise her safety over small gains.
If only those huge dumb lizards had the same foresight, their reign wouldn''t have ended ten million years ago.
As Shai pondered, the ground beneath her suddenly shook. Her [Golden Eyes] detected dangerous waves of aura emanating from the disturbance.
Her focus swiftly shifted to her surroundings to find any place to hide.
The cracks in the walls were easy to find, her [Golden Eyes] found one in a safe spot high on the wall. The crevice seemed to have gone deeper into the walls, a perfect spot to hide from unwanted eyes.
However, before Shai could even start climbing, the cause of the disturbance was upon her, their footsteps resounding loudly, making her heart lurch inside her narrow form.
It was those familiar beast-humans, after all. Three of the six individuals she encountered in the wilderness. They were surrounded by a group of menacing spiders. Thankfully, they would be too engrossed in their battle to notice the little snake, climbing the wall in the darkness.
The rough and jagged stone made it easier for her to climb. She shot inside the crack and became completely still. She concealed herself in the darkness, her white form disappearing almost completely.
Nobody would look out at a hiding spot within the high crevices of the wall. The crack was too narrow for big and dangerous creatures. Besides, these lots of humans seemed strong enough that they would leave a pesky snake like her. Not unless she offends them, just being in their way.
Even though Shai was curious about their fight, she didn''t let her curiosity get the better of her. Shai wouldn''t even try reading their levels with her [Golden Eyes] in case they notice. After all, these beast humans were possibly as strong as the female spider she had a conversation with.
Shai remained completely still, coiling herself in the crevice, her heart slowing down as if a single breath could alert those men.
The clamour of the conflict vibrated her inner ears. Shai kept them open, listening, acting all nonchalant.
"Quit fooling around, Mikel," barked the man called Dock, if Shai''s memory served her right. "If you must fuck an insect, at least have the decency to do it out of my sight."
Stupid human, spiders aren''t insects, Shai thought from her spot.
The monkey-looking fella was locked in a fierce battle with an unusually aggressive spider, his form groping the spiders almost too intimately, thrusting his dagger. Meanwhile, more spiders pursued him from behind. Though these creatures were considered inferior to humans in terms of energy manipulation, their raw physical strength made up for their shortcomings. However, that clearly wouldn''t be enough against these humans... humanoid beasts?
Honestly, Shai had no idea what they were.
The spiders shot sticky webs at Mikel, hindering his movements, but soon he crushed the spider he was clasping with his bare arms. But he wasn''t any bit freer.
"Ha ha," The monkey-faced Mikel''s laughter sounded forced, strained under the ruthless assault of the spiders. His dagger sliced through the cobwebs that threatened to envelop him from behind and sides. He also had to contend with the spider''s razor-sharp leg. Gritting his teeth, the monkey fella pushed through the webs and deflected the spider''s attack aimed at his abdomen.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
He evaded the spider''s lunge, sidestepping, and tore through its abdomen with a decisive strike.
"If you can spare the time for jesting," he shouted, his body splattered with a mixture of purple blood and brown goo, "why don''t you lend me a hand already?"
"Haha," Dock snickered as a pair of vibrant red wings unfurled from his back, propelling him up, as he carried the captive somewhere safe. "Just give me a moment to take care of our dear prince."
Shai watched their confrontation stoically, her eyes staring at the scene unfolding in utter indifference as she touched upon something. Something surreal. Aethereal almost.
The beast humans dealt with the horde of corrupted spiders with reckless ease. Despite their sloppy performance, their high levels led them to have the upper hand against these spiders, who knew next to nothing about energy manipulation.
Still, though the spiders weren''t a serious threat to these seasoned mercenaries, they were more than mere inconveniences. In horde they came, surrounding the two beastmen and the captive. If only they fought in unity, they would have made it a lot harder for the beastmen. But alas! the madness had already consumed part of their intelligence, rendering all possible chances at strategy impossible.
In vain, the spiders fought, their numbers plummeting at each moment.
The impasse was broken by Dock when he unfurled his exquisite feathered wings. After leaving the unconscious captive in a relatively secure location, he joined the battle with unrestrained fervour, killing spiders left and right, his glaive moving in a flurry of lethal strikes.
Together, the birdman Dock and the monkey fella fought their way through the spiders'' ranks, simply overwhelming them with their superior abilities.
***
"You''re getting dull with each passing day, Mikel," Dock said as the fight drew to a close. His deft palms began extracting the cores from the spiders'' heads with cold efficiency, as he cast a glance at his breathless companion. "It''s about time you restrain your unhealthy indulgences. I don''t see you improving much in your path, otherwise."
"I disagree," the monkey man, Mikel, said. "My friend Dock, you forgot, unhealthy indulgences is my path."
Dock winced. "I suppose our captive will testify to that."
Mikel chose not to reply to Dock, but instead turned his attention to the captive with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
The captive, youthful and in his late teens, appeared worn and weathered, his once handsome features marred by battle scars and fatigue. Soon, he awoke and found himself in the sheer terror of his situation.
Mikel''s face which was a cross between a monkey and a human twisted into a sick grin. That seemed to wake something within the captive, as he shoved aside the overwhelming terror and met Mikel''s gaze, a flicker of defiance gleaming in his eyes.
Their brief interaction did not escape Dock''s attention, even as he remained engrossed in extracting the cores. "Ah, it seems I missed some unsavoury conduct of yours," he remarked, raising his feathered head, a look of annoyance flashed on his face. "Mikel, has your sick fetish got the better of you again?"
"Give me a break... It''s nothing important," Mikel chuckled, although his expression quickly shifted to one of mortification.
"Nothing important, you say?" Dock rasped, his tone level, almost cold. "I bet you couldn''t resist whipping that noble ass after the Boss got out of sight."
Mikel was a sick bastard, as much as he was ugly. His behaviour sickened even Dock, who clearly wasn''t the best of men and had seen and done his fair share of sick things.
"I''ll tell you this once, Mikel," Dock said in a measured tone, locking eyes with the other beastman. "That boy is not your plaything. The Boss expects him unharmed, without any cuts or bruises, if it can be helped. He''s to be¡ª"
"I know," Mikel interrupted, irritated. "You don''t need to lecture me on how I go about my business. The boy is stronger than you know, I was just making it easier for Boss to handle him."
Dock doubted Mikel''s intentions. Mikel derived sick pleasure from demeaning others, particularly pure humans, those of higher birth or standing. The sadistic old bastard revelled in breaking their spirit. The stronger their will, the more intense his infatuation grew with them.
He shifted his attention to the captive, still bound by spirit suppression shackles. The captive stared dead at them. Well, especially at Mikel. Hate and murder sipping out, all too clearly.
"Don''t fret," Mikel said with a cold glimmer in his eyes. "By the time I''m done with him, he''ll be more docile than a tavern wench."
***
Shai observed the entire exchange, her stoicism breaking as she tried to gauge just how despicable this Mikel person was.
However, that didn''t mean Shai was planning to help the boy. She had no death wish, nor would she risk her life for someone who might view her as nothing more than a monster.
The time spent in eternity has made me wise, Shai mused as they left, leaving behind the corpses of dozens of higher-ranked spiders. Jackpot.
Although they had extracted the essence cores from these corpses, the fortune would still be substantial, probably more than anything she had earned before. Despite her fortune, she remained in her hiding spot until she was certain it was safe to come out.
[Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Stealth (E).]
Huh? It didn''t cost Insight?
Chapter 20 - Dumb Luck
Considering Shai had been skulking around since day one, it was no surprise that she managed to learn Stealth (E). The problem was that all her skill slots were currently in use.
[No Skill slots available.]
I''m aware, Grandpa, Shai complained. Give me a solution... pretty please!
[Would you like to swap a skill for Stealth (E)]
[Accept | Decline]
So there is a way! Shai was delighted and thanked System Grandpa, only to find herself in another debacle.
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 14% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 28% | Arcane Shot (D) - 19% | Essence Weaving (E) - 18% | Pain Resistance (E) - 73% | Force Shield (E) - 17% | Empower (E) - 31% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 69%
Shai summoned her Status page to check on her eight skills and as she feared, all eight of her skills were quite useful. But Stealth was similarly a great skill to have, considering her circumstances.
She considered which skills outweigh Stealth in usage. Shai overlooked all the D-ranked skills and went through the rest of them one by one. Her eyes lingered more on Pain Resistance and Force Shield. Needless to say, both of the skills played a certain role in keeping her safe. Although Shai didn''t use [Force Shield] all that much, it was her only defensive skill. While [Pain Resistance] let her endure terrible agony...
Grandpa, is there a way to increase skill slots?
Letting out an exasperated hiss, Shai considered swapping [Pain Resistance] with [Stealth]. She held her decision, however. Completing [Basic Meditation] got her a total of 6 points of attributes, and it was only an F-ranked skill. Pain Resistance was already at 73%. It was better to hold on to it until mastery before swapping. Besides, Shai knew the perfect way to master the skill. It wouldn''t take long at all.
With her mind made, she emerged from the crevice to collect her loot. Shai ejected all the low-levelled corpses she had in her Inventory and stowed away the HIgher-ranked creatures one after another, hardly sparing a glance at her accumulating wealth. By the end of her looting spree, Shai had to leave more than half of the corpses. It pained her, but there was no other option. It wasn''t like she could just stay there and eat...
Well, her ravenous stomach had no problem with the plan, but Shai already made up her mind to get the fuck out of this place. She couldn''t compete with creatures leagues above her level.
The food would last her for over a month... But then her stomach rumbled, the boundless hunger gnawing at her gut. Shai was no longer sure about the time frame the sustenance would last.
How tragic it was, that she couldn''t keep the wealth she gained through the twisted whims of fate.
Shooting a second glance at the meals she left behind, Shai slithered away from the area, avoiding the trails of purple blood flowing on the ground. She chose a path opposite to the road the rogue beastmen had taken.
As she progressed, the aura of corruption in the air dwindled, and her way became clearer and safer. The food in her inventory put her at ease. Perhaps she could lower her guard slightly and relax.
Now, all she needed to do was find her way out of this dungeon and level up with creatures of her size. Shai sensed that as her level grew, the harder it became to level up.
Crossing a few more tunnels and turns, Shai eventually arrived at a vast crater, or rather, a chasm. It loomed before her, shrouded in pitch darkness, with intermittent clusters of thick spider cobwebs intricately woven orderly. It seemed as though some mathematicians had dedicated years of effort to construct such a complex web formation.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
However, Shai knew that it was not the work of mathematicians but that of Empathetic Spiders like Serenity. Hmm, do the spiders know geometry?
Gazing at the complex structure of webs that spanned into the depths of the dark chasm beyond her eyes could reach, it was evident that those who created this place knew what they were doing. Unfortunately, Shai didn''t comprehend their purpose. Was it just for fun, or was there some use for these geometric formations?
But ignoring all that, there was an appetising smell in the air. She extended her forked tongue from her mouth to savour the scent, gradually inching closer to the objects emitting the delectable fragrance.
To her surprise, she discovered a vast field of mushrooms growing all over the chasm walls, interwoven with the intricate webbing of the cobwebs.
A mushroom farm? Shai thought, her head swirling with bewilderment. These spiders know how to farm their own food. This world is truly bizarre.
The mushrooms she encountered here were of a different variety than the ones she had come across before. They appeared fuller... Fleshy? Meaty? Delicious. Undoubtedly more appetising. Shai inched closer, mindful that even plants could possess intelligence and pose a threat.
She triggered [Golden Eyes] on one of the smaller mushrooms from a safe distance.
[Bloodcudding Mushroom - Lesser.]
The name alone was ominous, yet the mushrooms looked and smelled far too appetising for Shai to resist, despite having plenty of rations in her inventory. Unceremoniously, she shot an [Arcane Shot] and sliced through the mushroom. Before it could fall, a suction force came out of her mouth as she devoured the Bloodcudding Mushroom directly.
Shai couldn''t be certain how much her snake form could truly taste, and appreciate the different flavours. Meat had been okay, though not of insectoids or spiders. However, these mushrooms proved to be an absolute delicacy. Shai couldn''t help herself and swallowed another mushroom before the taste of the first one completely dissolved. Then another. And another...
Before Shai realised, she had consumed a dozen of these mushrooms. Her eyes gleamed with fervour, yearning to devour them all.
Clearly, her instincts were screwed when it came to food, particularly delicacies of this nature. Shai had to meditate for a few minutes to regain control over herself. But she stopped herself from meditating
These were cultivated lands, or chasms, and the spiders that tended to them might be lurking nearby. Sigh, these mushrooms are simply too delicious to be left behind...
For once, Shai allowed her stomach to decide over her better judgment. She opened the Inventory to drop a few more corpses from it to store nearly her entire inventory with the delicious mushrooms. She made sure to cause some chaos in the area she had looted, leaving the corpses behind, and making it appear as though it had been ravaged by corrupted creatures, perhaps even spiders.
Shai felt a pang of guilt for destroying the field. There was a certain beauty in the arrangement of the cobwebs. Even in her snake form, she could appreciate it, despite not being much into art.
The cobweb formation... felt intrinsic and concealed, something too profound for a humble serpent like her to fully comprehend with her limited worldview.
Now, it was time to get out of this place... Shai thought as she slithered back along the path she had come from. Although she had stumbled upon some fortuitous encounters while wandering, she had a nagging feeling that she was moving deeper into the dungeon, which was the last thing she desired.
Shai hadn''t even moved for a couple of minutes in a sloped tunnel that went under when something changed in her surroundings. A tremor crept up out of her being as the ground began to shake along.
An earthquake? Within a dungeon? Shai knew too little to judge.
It felt as if a storm was brewing within the path, rapidly approaching her. Although the earthquake was not powerful enough to collapse the dungeon, it posed a genuine threat to Shai.
Taking a deep, chilly breath, Shai swiftly turned around and crawled at her maximum speed. After a few more tense seconds, she discovered the cause of the earthquake. It was not a natural occurrence, nor was it caused by one or two creatures.
But swarms of several thousand spiders, ranging in size from half a metre to a full metre in length. They stormed through the tunnels as if participating in a marathon.
Shai couldn''t help but curse inwardly at the spectacle. Of course, it is the fucking spiders again.
Chapter 21 - The Grand Spider Marathon
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE GRAND SPIDER MARATHON
Did they discover I stole their mushrooms already? That was the first thought that came to Shai after discovering it was a swarm of spiders. But that can''t be. I took notice of my surroundings.
Even if they did notice her stealing, why would they send a legion to capture a cute little snake like her? There were literally thousands of those eight-legged creatures, swarming in a wave as if participating in some grand race.
They didn''t seem to pose any malicious intent towards her, but that did little to relieve her unease. Even if there were rewards in this grand race, she desired no part in it.
The spiders hadn''t noticed her yet, engrossed in overtaking their competitor. But it wouldn''t be long before they''d detect her, and she wondered what would happen if what Serenity said about their empathic nature was all true.
Maybe they would simply fail to notice the snake slithering along the sides of the tunnel. But Shai didn''t think her luck was that good. Not after she came across two lucky encounters.
Or perhaps there was something else driving this legion of spiders, something chasing after them? That would be another problem altogether.
Every part of the tunnel¡ªtop, bottom, left, and right¡ªwas occupied by the spiders as each one sought to outdo the others, filling the air with their squeaks and screeches.
If this wasn''t madness, then what else? Shai wondered, looking for any crack in the tunnel walls for her to hide. Her stealth wouldn''t activate when she was moving, Shai needed to be completely still for it to take effect, which wouldn''t be possible if she couldn''t find a safe place to hide.
Panic overtook her as Shai couldn''t find a place to hide. The swarm was upon her, as Shai painstakingly navigated through their movements. Shai joined the race reluctantly. Thankfully, none of them had noticed her yet, completely concentrating on the race.
Unfortunately for her, not every one of them was participating in the race. After several seconds of crawling amidst the cluttered swarm, Shai felt a familiar tug of a telepathic link on her mind, catching her off guard. She instinctively tried to block all mental intrusion, creating an imaginary barrier around her thoughts, but it was already too late.
"You stupid snake, why haven''t you left yet?" A voice stung her mind, the tone high and fuming. It was a voice she recognised. "I swear, if you lay a hand on these kids, I''ll eat you alive."
Well, it seemed she would not even receive a consolation prize for participating in this spider marathon.
Great, just what I was waiting for, she grumbled inwardly, keeping her eyes on the path ahead to avoid being trampled by the hundreds of sharp spider legs. She even infused her body with primal essence, channelling [Golden Eyes] to enhance her perception and [Empower] as an added layer of protection. Finally taking care of that, she focused her attention on the telepathic link.
"You need not worry. I don''t even have a finger to lay upon anyone," she conveyed through the telepathic connection, hoping the big spider mama would just let her be. "I mean, I don''t really have hands, much less fingers. Your babies are completely safe."
"You know what I mean," came a response.
"I think you''re worrying about the wrong person," Shai retorted. It was she who was in trouble.
"Seriously, you don''t seem to value your life all that much," Serenity replied.
Shai had no time to reply as she was too busy evading the stampeding baby spiders. Despite the spiders being preoccupied with their marathon and not becoming aggressive at the mere sight of her, her safety became increasingly challenging with each second. After all, she was the tiniest. Thankfully, not the weakest. She wouldn''t die if she got stomped a few times.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Shai''s spirit skills were already disrupted multiple times due to being trampled by sharp appendages. And to make matters worse, she couldn''t retaliate against the spiders. Somewhere behind a fully sentient giant spider mama lurking, ready to devour her if she harmed the spiders. Not to mention engaging in a fight here was ill-advised.
Shai was outrageously outnumbered.
As she continued to dodge the spider legs threatening to crush her, Shai inched towards the opposite side of the spiders'' path. However, there seemed to be no end to this swarm.
"Hey," the voice spoke through the telepathic link once again. "Can you leap into the air?"
"I can," Shai replied in a pressing tone. "But why should I?"
"Because then I can catch you," Serenity explained.
"And eat me alive?" Shai asked sceptically.
The spider mama expressed a gloating tone through the telepathic connection. "Don''t worry, I''m full," the voice reassured her. "Besides, your tiny body wouldn''t even be enough for a single meal for me."
Shai shared the same opinion about the spider, although the likelihood of her hunting the spider was slim. Besides, Shai had no intention of getting involved in that spider''s affairs. As long as she stayed out of her business, they would be on good terms. She hoped.
"Haha," Shai chuckled sarcastically. "That puts my mind at ease."
"I''ll give you my word then," Serenity said solemnly, "If you don''t cause any harm to my clan, I won''t harm you. I vowed on the name of the Great Mother."
Her words seemed sincere, but what about the other spider that had come to attack her?
"And what about the other spiders I''ve killed?" Shai pressed, taking a moment to think before adding, "You must understand it was purely in self-defence." Most of the encounters have been just that.
The large spider expressed annoyance and perhaps a hint of bitterness. "Oh, come on, I don''t have all day. We can discuss your crimes later."
Upon hearing this, Shai slowed her pace. If only she could find a quick way out of here, escaping this maddening swarm. But the big spider mama seemed to be the only way out.
"Are you even listening?" the voice echoed through the telepathic link once again. "I know you''re scared, angered with everything you''ve been through. I can feel it. But trust me on this, I gave you my word. Our conflict will be set aside until we''re out of this predicament. You can''t escape without my assistance. All you''ll accomplish is chaos among the young ones."
Chaos didn''t sound so bad, and Shai probably would have chosen it over trusting some eight-legged creature. However, Serenity seemed genuinely concerned about the younglings of her clan. Even if Shai escaped after creating chaos through their ranks, she could accidentally kill some of the younglings. No, she definitely would.
Serenity wouldn''t be the least bit courteous then. She would hunt her down no matter the cost.
Shai reluctantly admitted it. She couldn''t escape on her own, this spider mama was her only way out.
Sometimes, all it takes is a leap of faith.
Sucking in a chilly breath, Shai braced herself and leapt off through the swarming spiders, even though her instincts cried against it. Her body catapulted through the gaps between the swiftly moving spiders, shooting up into mid-air. A few dozen pairs of spider eyes whirled towards her, finally noticing her existence. However, before the spider babies could react, a white web shot out from the back, entrapped her tail and yanked her away from the horde.
Within a matter of seconds, Shai found herself rescued from the spider swarm, only to find herself glued to the back of a much larger spider. She surmised that it must be the spider mama.
An urgent realisation struck her: she needed to escape from this predicament. Shai mustered all her strength, attempting to break free from the clutches of the spider mama. But her efforts proved futile as her body stuck firmly to the spider''s abdomen. All her struggles to break free proved fruitless.
It wasn''t just the sticky web that held her captive; there was something more, an inexplicable force that bound her to the spider.
"No, you promised!" Shai screamed into the mental link.
"Gah! Don''t do that."
"You promised!" Shai repeated with the same level of intensity.
"I promised not to harm you," replied the spider causally.
"But you''re harming me already."
Serenity didn''t bother to reply, instead put her mind to the younglings charging ahead.
Chapter 22 - Concepts
Shai refused to be on her mercy. Hissing in determination, she unleashed her secret weapon¡ª[Essence Eater]. A powerful suction force surged forth, emanating not just from her mouth but from every inch of her body. The energy within her surged, coursing through her entire being, enabling her to unleash the aspect to its full capacity.
"What? How?" the empathic spider exclaimed, utterly bewildered by Shai''s unexpected actions.
Shai remained silent, allowing her insatiable hunger to consume the power that kept her glued to the spider. Gradually, the force that bound her diminished, although it took several seconds before she was finally liberated.
Seizing the opportunity, Shai leapt off the spider''s back without delay. Sadly, the relieving taste of freedom was brief, as yet another web hurtled towards her, entangling her once again. She let out an exasperated groan as the sticky web covered her, pressing her against the spider''s back.
"AHHH!" Shai bellowed into her mind, which reverberated in their shared connection, causing the spider to shrill wistfully.
"Don''t worry," the spider reassured her. "I''m not going to eat you."
Again, that did not relieve her at all.
Even though the spider mama tried to reassure Shai with her words, the bizarre and unnatural mind waves she transmitted made her cringe in disgust. Furthermore, the sultry undertone in her voice reminded Shai of what she had previously mentioned¡ªthe empathic spiders fed on emotions like delicacies.
Shai was in grave peril if she couldn''t flee. The spiders may not kill her outright, but Shai wasn''t looking forward to being a living drug for the empathetic creatures to feed upon. Just the thought sent shivers down her spine.
"Let me go," Shai demanded.
"In a few minutes," the spider said, mentally fortifying herself to remain unaffected by the overwhelming emotions emanating from her captive. "Hmm, how did you manage to do that? Even Iron rankers cannot break free from my adhesional force that easily."
"Adhesional?" Shai repeated, finally understanding why breaking free had been so incredibly difficult.
"Well, it derives from Adhesion, a concept I''m cultivating to form my dao."
Shai wasn''t sure if she should be impressed or horrified. How horrifying is this spider mama?
Adhesion was exactly what it sounds like. It glued stuff together. It might have minimal effect as a combat concept, but its prowess in sticking things together was unparalleled. As long as the Intent of the adhesion remained intact, there was no way to break free.
Fortunately for Shai, she possessed the quirky concept of Hunger, which could literally eat anything. Well, she sometimes felt like it. She certainly couldn''t digest stones if she ate them, but that''s not relevant now.
Although it was difficult, she managed to consume the spider''s force using [Essence Eater]. There seemed to be no other way to confront a power that stemmed from a concept.
"What do you want?" Shai grumbled, her gaze fixed on the spiders flashing before her eyes.
The spider mama inquired, "The concept of yours, is it Hunger or Feast?"
Shai pondered the question for a moment, recognising that Feast might not be the concept welcomed by the spider. Well, considering the corruption that seemed to stem from Feast, her worry wasn''t unwarranted.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
"Why do you ask?" Shai replied, trying to fish out more information. This spider mama was a permanent resident of this dungeon. She was bound to know more about it.
The empathic spider remained silent for a moment before responding, "It''s not Feast, I think. You''re too sane and too crafty to maintain the lucidity of your mind, but I may be mistaken."
"Well, thank you very much." In her panic, Shai channelled her inner lunacy. "This young lady cannot be claimed by those filthy powers. Now that you''ve verified this young lady''s virtue, let us part ways."
With that, Shai forced out [Essence Eater] again, but before she could even get free, Serenity covered her with another layer of webs, spending more force of Adhesion.
"Not so fast, little snake. I need to be sure about your nature. I cannot just let a dangerous creature like you roam free in our domain. Who knows, you might even be the first creature that gained sentience through corruption."
Shai groaned.
Feast and Hunger were two related concepts, as both revolved around the consumption of food.
Shai wasn''t sure what was good and what was bad about them. Was eating alright, but having the pleasure was not? That didn''t seem right, but how could a concept like Feast corrupt creatures?
Wait, there are subtle distinctions between them. It was basically in their name.
Feast was like an elaborate process of eating, while Hunger was a state that derived from not eating for a long time.
Hmm. If Shai was thinking along the right lines, then Feast was more like Gluttony, the insatiable desire to devour, while Hunger was akin to Greed¡ªthe ambition to not only consume but also to become something greater, someone exalted.
She could have chosen better words to describe them, but not after what she experienced. In a sense, Hunger didn''t sound any better. Ultimately, if she viewed everything as mere sustenance, it wouldn''t be long before she would fall prey to its intoxicating avarice.
The realisations seemed to click something on her as she found the unique power surging through her, though still far from a breakthrough.
Shai refrained from attempting to break free from the powerful adhesion force that held her captive, but she remained alert and prepared. If the opportunity presented itself, she might be able to escape at the right moment. Furthermore, with dozens of spider babies surrounding them, she sensed a potential advantage she could exploit. Serenity certainly cared a lot for the younglings. She wouldn''t want them to get hurt.
"Serenity," said a three-foot-tall spider, approaching from behind. Its pure white colour contrasted with the typical brown and obsidian shades of the others. "What''s with that snake on your back?"
Shai used [Golden Eyes] to find the new commer to be Level 31, a threat that far surpassed the other hundreds of spider babies, though still within her limit to deal with. Well, perhaps not in combat, but Shai had many ways to flee from it.
"Oh, Marvel," Serenity, the empathic spider mama, responded, as a couple of her pupils shifted their attention towards the white spider. Shai couldn''t understand why Serenity maintained the telepathic link between them. What ulterior motives could she have? "Why aren''t you sprinting with the others?"
A few other spiders were trailing behind, even smaller in size, barely reaching a couple of feet. They seemed to be the youngest members of the horde, doing their best to keep up, though their efforts fell short. Marvel, the unique white spider among them, stood out from the rest, as she seemed to be herding the rest much like Serenity.
"Don''t worry," Serenity reassured Shai, anticipating her concern. Her mind waves were calming somehow. "These are the females of my clan. They won''t harm you unless you aggravate them."
"Are you certain about that?" Shai questioned, noticing the white spider''s all-eight eyes fixed upon her, gazing intensely, drawing closer as if attempting to catch a whiff of something marvellous.
"It talked. Serenity, it talked," Marvel screamed in the telepathic link, her interest growing with her voice.
"I know."
"What kind of snake does that? Where did you find it? Can I touch it? Or at least clash my mind against it?" Then Marvel burst into a barrage of questions, her eight eyes gleaming with excitement as she stared at Shai. "Is this the prize of the race?"
The last question from Marvel sent a chill down Shai''s spine. Indeed, it was a race. Unfortunately, she might even become the grand prize of it.
Chapter 23 - Escape
Marvel grew closer to her, causing Shai to hiss threateningly.
Serenity didn''t want Marvel to get any closer either. "The snake was lurking nearby. And no, you must not even come near it. This creature is dangerous."
"But it doesn''t look dangerous," Marvel argued. She forced her empathic mind into Shai''s tiny brain, but Serenity blocked her path, four pairs of eyes glaring dangerously.
"It is not a thing," the spider mama declared. "Nor a prize... Be obedient, or I''ll serve you the same treatment as I gave it."
"Hey, don''t talk about me like I''m not here..." Inwardly, Shai was relieved, learning she wouldn''t be the prize in this absurd spider race.
However, Marvel, the young spider, became saddened by the news as she argued with Serenity. She seemed to briefly consider making Shai the official prize. Thankfully, upon weighing the disadvantages, Serenity decided against it, much to Shai''s relief.
Marvel acted as if she didn''t hear her. "It''s so odd," Marvel transferred, sneaking on Shai. "A creature this tiny possesses so many negative emotions. Serenity, please, can I keep it?"
"No," admonished the spider mama immediately. "Absolutely not. She.. the snake is to be sent to Solace."
"Then I have no interest in the race," Marvel said in the link firmly, confident that if she tried, she would have no problem coming first in the race. "A few dream crystals just aren''t worth it for me to bully my sisters."
Strangely enough, the race was a competition among the baby spiders from their school to their dwellings. Yes, these spiders had their own school, which still sounded peculiar to Shai, no matter how many times she heard them say.
"So, you guys adopted all this from humans?" Shai attempted to converse.
"Schooling?" Serenity replied uncertainly. "We''ve always been like this. Humans rarely interact with us, and when they do, it''s usually not for anything good. A small snake like you wouldn''t understand that."
Shai emitted an exasperated hiss as if resigned to her fate. "Anyway, can you please tell this kid to stop staring at me hungrily?" she requested, eyeing Marvel, who persistently trailed behind her, sniffing around. Strangely, Shai began to feel mentally drained. "Some distance would do us both some good."
Serenity shifted a couple of her eyeballs to focus on Marvel. "Why are you still here, Marvel? Continue with the rest."
The smaller spider remained unmoved. She summoned all her courage to divert her attention from Shai and directed it towards Serenity.
"Why did school end so early today?" she asked, narrowing all eight of her eyes on the big spider mama. "You don''t cancel school for no reason. What went wrong?"
Serenity let out a slight squeak of irritation. "Nothing''s wrong," she reassured the young spider. "The Luminous Night is approaching, and there''s much to prepare for. You should hurry along with the others."
"The Luminous Night comes every month," Marvel rasped, her mind not as adept at telepathy as Serenity''s, but her presence was resolute. "Something is happening at our home, and you''re keeping it from us. I won''t leave until you tell me what''s going wrong. Do you hear me, Serenity?"
Ah, kids, Shai pondered. How na?ve they can be! They always think they know better, even in situations that the adults handled all the time. Well, this could work to my advantage.
"You want to know what''s wrong with this place, kid?" Shai conveyed through the telepathic link. "This young lady can help you with that. You see, I saw a group of beastmen with humans--"
Before Shai could complete her sentence, the telepathic link was cut off. Serenity''s eight eyes fixed upon her, glaring intensely, malevolent energy emanating out from the crimson eyes.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Did I push her buttons too early? She wondered in panic. Nevertheless, the outcome now rested on the kid. Go, Marvel, live up to your name and be marvellous.
As Shai expected, the young spider sprang forward with unwavering determination upon hearing the mention of beastmen and humans. She appeared to engage in a telepathic conversation with Serenity, but with the link severed, Shai couldn''t estimate how intense their argument was.
Silently and skilfully, Shai once again exerted her power over hunger, devouring the force of adhesion while the spiders were engrossed in their dispute. She would have liked to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Serenity was far too wise to allow such an opportunity.
Nevertheless, from the way the argument unfolded, Shai sensed that Serenity had the upper hand, being an adult in this spider community. Unfortunately, she missed two things. First up, she didn''t think Shai would try to free herself and could do it discreetly. And she failed to estimate what kind of reaction Marvel would have. She defiantly underestimated the brashness of youth and Marvel''s impulsive attitude.
Marvel actually formed a telepathic connection with Shai, not getting any answer from her elder. Shai hadn''t expected this from her. Good going, girl.
Unfortunately, the younger spider couldn''t link up discreetly while the big spider mama had a tug on Shai.
"I saw high-ranking beastmen killing a horde of spiders a couple of hours from here," Shai uttered the very moment the link formed. "There is also the corrupt pond--"
The sudden wave of words captured the attention of both arguing parties, but before Shai could finish, the big spider mama cut off the connection between them forcefully. "Will you just be quiet?"
If Serenity had a human face, Shai could easily catch her transform from mildly irritated to fuming furiously. Only those malevolent eyes stared down at Shai, leaving her to question her life choices.
Unfortunately, the die was already cast. There was no going back now.
And they were back to arguing again, leaving Shai to do whatever she pleased.
Shai was on the verge of freeing herself entirely. Go, Marvel. Be marvellous or rebellious, whichever you choose, she cheered inwardly, which somehow didn''t seem to go unnoticed by the spider mama.
I suppose the time is right.
Shai tore through the cobweb and leapt three metres forward in a single bound, her eyes radiating in a cold glow. She hissed fiercely as a mental assault arrested her mind, overloading her senses.
"Shai! You little reptile! Stop right there..." The words struck like thunderbolts, but unannounced. The spider didn''t need to form a connection to blast her head off.
Shai stopped listening, but she didn''t stop moving. Her [Mental Corrosion Resistance] barely doing its job as Shai formed a nasty attack of her own.
Shai gathered up the indignation, fury, sorrow, and loss she felt all her life. Not just from this life, but the life prior, to which she lived seventeen years in disregard. While seventeen years might not be long, there was no shortage of people to remind her she didn''t matter, or how insignificant she was.
Her hatred and anger grew further as she slid off the lid of it all. She was reminded again of the betrayal, however, what hurt her most was the treachery of her family. Just because her father became crippled, they cast him aside to rot.
All these negative emotions bore down on Shai as she found herself becoming heavier. Too heavy and broken to carry herself.
But Shai refused to back down. She refused to arrest her fate at someone else''s mercy. Not anymore.
Shai took action.
She concentrated on all the negative emotions and thrust them all up into the link between her and Serenity in one flooding, turbulent wave of attack.
The empathetic spiders feed upon others'' emotions. Good luck feeding upon this torrent of negative emotions.
The sheer force of emotion engulfed Serenity, stilling her mind to measure them. Ignoring the fact that she was overworked¡ªthey all were, with everything going on in their home¡ªthe sheer force of emotions Shai delivered to her was overwhelming, even for a mind cultivator like her.
Serenity shrieked, not through the telepathic link, but outwardly. It was certainly not a scream of panic, but more of an overwhelming intrigue. Her empathetic nature heightened the emotions further, rendering her motionless on the path for a moment.
It was just a fraction of the time, but it gave Shai just enough edge to make a sprint for it. She channelled all the energy she could muster, utilising [Empower] and [Golden eyes] simultaneously as she crept away.
Shai was uncertain how much longer Serenity would be in the trance, nor did she know how much longer she could sustain her current abilities.
Probably a few more seconds. Hopefully, it will be enough time for her to make her escape, right?
However, she detected something was trailing her. Shai''s blood turned cold as terror coursed through her veins. She braced herself for an attack, only to realise that it wasn''t the imposing spider mama, but her rebellious champion, Marvel.
Shai''s tension eased slightly, though she remained vigilant. She formed [Force Shield] and shoved it to Marvel, hampering her chase. But the white spider was athletic in all the ways possible, masterfully evading the [Force Shield]. Shai couldn''t bring herself to assault the young spiders violently, fearing what the elder spider would do in return.
Thankfully, she wouldn''t have to worry anymore.
A web shot out from behind, not aimed at her, but at Marvel. It ensnared Marvel''s eight legs, abdomen, and head, enveloping her in a cocoon. Serenity yanked back the cocoon while Shai seized the opportunity to make her escape.
Phew! My gamble paid off.
"Remember our agreement, Shai the snake," Serenity''s voice announced in her mind. "I don''t want to pay you a personal visit next time."
And then the telepathic link was severed, and both parties hastened in opposite directions.
Chapter 24 - No Ordinary Snake
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
NO ORDINARY SNAKE
Shai''s channels seethed in a fiery intensity as if she was set on fire. She had to channel excessive primal essence, far surpassing her limits to escape from the spiders. Even though Serenity didn''t give chase, Shai didn''t stop until she was miles away, hidden in some small crack that led nowhere.
It would take hours for her channels to calm down from the burning anguish. Nevertheless, she could not afford to rest just yet.
Despite being weakened, Shai exerted her body to dig through the rugged stone, painstakingly burrowing a hole several metres deep. Hopefully, all this pain would help her master [Pain Resistance] sooner. She closed the way into the hole with multiple layers of black Python scales, just trying to be a little thorough.
Curling herself comfortably within the hole, Shai settled down when she heard System Grandpa''s voice in her mind.
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 11. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
While her recent experience had been hectic, she hadn''t killed any creature to gain this level. This could only mean one thing... the mushrooms and copper-ranked corpse she devoured. Well, she had once levelled up eating peaches and mushrooms, but it had taken her a lot of time to digest and synthesise the essence from those magical treasures.
The [Spark of Hunger], or rather the ability [Essence Eater] that derived from the concept, aided a lot in the digestion process. changing the whole game for her. Maybe I can just avoid fights and reach supremacy just by eating?
Shai added that to her rough guide to supremacy.
Next, she accessed her System page to track her growth. It has been a few days since she last looked into it. The only reason she avoided looking into it was because it was disheartening at times to not see her attributes grow fast enough.
____________
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 11
Laws: Concept of Hunger (Early)
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute:
- Physique: 21
- Mind: 25 (+20%)
- Soul: 33
- Recovery: 26 (+10%)
Special Attributes:
- Insight: 2
- Evolution: 0
- Fortune: 9
Unallocated points: 2
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (A) | Poison Affinity (D) | Essence Eater (B)
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 17% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 30% | Arcane Shot (D) - 19% | Essence Weaving (E) - 19% | Pain Resistance (E) - 78% | Force Shield (E) - 17% | Empower (E) - 39% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 72%
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I was only a Level 1 Hatchling, but now I''m hungry...
[System Log] [Active Quest]
_____________
Shai was stunned at how fast her skills grew when she had to put them to the limits. Seriously, confrontation against foes beyond her capabilities seemed to be the fastest way to grow one''s skills. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
One thing to note, how her need for sleep had dropped a lot as her attributes grew. Before it had been over half a day, but now with her improved attributes, especially in Mind and Recovery, she needed a few hours less. Then again, sleeping seemed to boost the digestion process of whatever she ate.
Well, Shai had alternated between meditation and sleep for most of the time when she wasn''t painstakingly fatigued like today. While meditation did alleviate her body, mind, and perhaps even soul, it certainly wasn''t a substitution for sleep.
Perhaps she wouldn''t need to rest at all when her attributes reached three digits. But that was another story. For now, what Shai needed above all was rest.
She surrendered herself to sleep, embracing the relief it offered. She deserved it after all the crazy stuff she had to deal with.
"Don''t ever run like that," Serenity scolded Marvel, who remained trapped inside the cocoon. Only her head was out of it, as Serenity dragged her throughout the way. "What were you thinking?"
"That snake, it was getting away," Marvel transmitted in a resigned manner, still steaming with indignation at how she was treated. "Why did you let it go?"
"She''s dangerous." Serenity''s thoughts paused for a moment, moving at the rear of the marathon. "Especially for our kind."
Her final words were directed not only at Marvel but also at herself. A part of her mind was still locked with the emotion the little snake let her feed upon. Little it might have been, that snake was one complicated creature. Serenity had no way of explaining why such a young creature could have such intensity of emotions. It was inconceivable for a spirit beast that young and weak, as far as she was concerned.
From the instant Serenity caught wind of Shai''s presence, she sensed that this was no ordinary snake. However, the recent events left her even more uncertain and muddled. The exhilarating emotions she fed upon were enough to make her soar through the clouds, not that she had ever seen clouds. Real Clouds.
It was a mere trick, but that didn''t mean it was easy, to use their own weakness as an attack. The way Shai did it to elude her grasp left her utterly perplexed. If time permitted, Serenity would have eagerly studied this enigmatic being, those intense, negative emotions were undeniably fascinating.
But time was exactly what she didn''t have. Serenity regained her composure, through a stern exercise of emptying her mind. Her home was under siege, overrun by a swarm of agitated spirit creatures. Then there was the dwindling food supply, aggravating the volatile nature of the male spiders. On top of that, a few unwelcome guests came knocking into their home, probably to invade the Gate.
Yet here she was, daydreaming about savouring the emotions of that reptilian creature. That cursed snake. In her folly, Shai had not only rattled Marvel but also herself. Thankfully, Elegy was not here to witness her lapse in judgement.
"But why did you have to let it go?" Marvel pressed, a hint of urgency in her mental wave. She wasn''t entirely sure what had compelled her to transmit such thoughts to Serenity. Much of it was likely the impact of the overwhelming surge of emotions she absorbed while running after the snake. "If it is as dangerous as you claim, then we must capture it and--"
"That''s enough out of you," Serenity interrupted Marvel. "Your actions were driven by whims, without any consideration for the consequences. I understand that the influx of emotions you absorbed affected you, but that only emphasises the need for more training. You will not ask any more questions about the snake, nor will you disclose anything about this matter to your siblings."
"But..." Marvel began to protest. However, Serenity didn''t let her voice her objections.
"No ''buts.'' You will remain silent on this matter," Serenity mimicked the mind wave technique Midnight used to employ on her during her willful and unruly moments when she was younger. The tactic worked like a charm, as Marvel fell silent just as Serenity anticipated. "Not only that, you will hide your rattled emotions from your siblings. Emotions weigh more on us than mere words, so try your best not to divulge more of your emotions to your siblings that would be detrimental to their growth."
That was another pressing issue. Emotions affected empathetic creatures like them in more ways than corruption could. A single instance of negative emotions could affect the fledgeling enough to twist their mind. That was probably why the Great Mother asked me to leave the snake behind.
"You can be rest assured," Marvel said with solemn confidence. "I''m not sloppy enough to let something out to my siblings."
Serenity expressed a wave of encouragement through their link. Now, she needed to end it with a little reward, lest Marvel began to grumble again. "I hope you''re not. We have more pressing matters to attend to."
"You mean the humans?" Marvel couldn''t resist asking, curiosity and concern flooding through her tone.
"Yes," Serenity said, suppressing any mind waves that showed vulnerability. Instead, she projected an air of unwavering determination. "Midnight is making the necessary preparations. You children need not worry."
"I''ve told you, I''m not a fledgeling anymore!"
Serenity gave a dismissive wave at the strength of Marvel''s brainwave. "Aha, you only reached the copper rank last month, Little Kin. While it is impressive that you''re the only one so far in your generation, that doesn''t mean you have nothing to learn," she said, her attention partially focused on fledgelings participating in the race. "Copper Ranker is what we call a Novice. It is merely the beginning of your journey. Now, Marvel, you seem to idolise Solace a lot. Do you like to have some personal lessons from her? I think you''re ready to learn a couple of complicated spirit arts."
"Really?" Marvel''s red eyes burned in intensity. "You mean that?"
"Obviously," Serenity said with stark confidence, even though she hadn''t asked Solace yet. Well, what she said wasn''t false. Marvel was ready to learn more spirit arts, and who''d be best to teach her other than Solace, who was second to none in their clan in teaching? Except for the Great Mother, probably. Hopefully, Solace can manage some time to teach Marvel. "I''ll talk to Solace about it. But in the meantime, don''t start that conversation again. You''re not ready yet."
"But Serenity," Marvel transmitted in a wave of both pitiful resignations and hopeful enthusiasm. "I can truly be of help. I know I can. Just give me a chance."
Serenity clattered her mandibles in response, very similar to how Elegy would react in frustration. "We''ll talk about it after you complete all your lessons."
Chapter 25 - Deadend
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DEAD END
In the gloomy dark atmosphere of the dungeon, Shai couldn''t determine how long she had slept, but she sensed a significant part of her strength returning. And hunger. Well, mostly hunger.
Her entire body convulsed, growling with an instinctual need as she awoke. Hunger.
Shai hissed and ejected a good chunk of copper-ranked creature''s flesh and the Bloodcudding Mushrooms to satiate her ravenous stomach. With her growing body, her hunger was growing as well. Shai was about the size of a normal snake--a couple of metres in length--still small, considering magical creatures tend to grow huge over time as they level up.
Despite her small form, her hunger was easily equal to ten ravenous wolves.
Weirdly, as she gulped, the mushrooms felt like some kind of squishy, tender meat, whereas the flesh had a sharp vile taste she would rather swallow first.
It must be a dream to gain strength merely by eating, Shai thought, realising the deception in her own words. It wasn''t merely eating.
Yes, it was possible to gain strength from devouring sustenance, but she couldn''t ignore the fact that Hunger seemed to be a notorious concept to be wary of.
It was a double-edged sword. The more complacent she became with this ability, the easier it would be to fall into a trap of her own making, transforming into a mindless, insatiable abomination.
Therefore, Shai must remain vigilant about her eating habits¡ªwhen she eats, how much she eats, and, most importantly, what she eats. Allowing Hunger to corrupt herself was a perilously simple task. She would not ingest anything anymore until she ensured she digested everything.
Hopefully, this meal will let her level once again a few hours. A snake could only dream...
Stealthily, Shai came out of the hole after taking note of her surroundings. Ideally, she would have preferred to stay hidden in the hole, but remaining in one area for too long was unwise, particularly in such a treacherous environment.
Moreover, there was the possibility that Serenity or the other empathic spider would come searching for her, even though they should have more pressing matters to attend to.
So Shai decided to scout her surroundings to look for better areas to hide. What are the chances that she would come across something dangerous, something she shouldn''t have, again?
***
***
Isla discovered the tracks that would lead them to their destination fairly early. Sadly, her hope was squashed when she discovered more pathways exactly similar to the ones on her map.
The Twisted Webs felt suffocating, with darkness looming all over, infested with vile creatures that attacked anything in their sight. Their only option was to tap into their primal essence to enhance their vision and senses to navigate through the treacherous dungeon a little more skillfully.
As they ventured deeper, they realised that the dungeon was far wider than they initially imagined, though they had to move through narrow tunnels very often.
They had to cover numerous tracks, steer through countless turns, and even climb through a few chasms to reach their destination. The paths snaked their way like a maze, a single misstep could lead to further delays.
Isla had some time in hand, but thoughts of Javi nagged at the back of her mind, urging her to remain focused. Isla never imagined she would get this worked up, even though she didn''t admit it in front of Zael. Or to herself.
Adding to her worries, her mission was awfully vague, save for the place she needed to be and present her case. While she possessed theoretical knowledge of her destination and mission, this place eluded her enough to cause her to second-guess herself.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Isla," Zael voiced his doubts, following closely behind Isla. "Are you certain this is the right path? Even for someone like me who believes in the Preservers, this seems farfetched."
"I know," she admitted without a fight. "But it''s too late to turn back now."
Isla continued along the path, hoping to encounter a specific type of spider that held the key to completing her task. To make matters more challenging, she had been explicitly instructed not to harm any of the spiders. It was crucial that she approached them cordially with her behaviour prim and proper as if she was there to meet the queen.
She knew that there were spirit beasts that possessed intelligence rivalling that of a human, however, that notion seemed absurdly unrealistic for the dwellers of this place. It was a freaking dungeon for the Preservers'' sake. Only vile abominations dwelled within a dungeon.
Isla received the first evidence of this when they encountered the spiders earlier. The creatures launched an aggressive assault against them without any form of greeting or thinking.
Although Isla and Zael managed to avoid killing the spiders, they had no choice but to inflict severe injuries in order to scare them away. Isla doubted this strategy could work. The spiders appeared mindless and devoid of reason, leaving no room for negotiation or understanding between them.
She clung to the decree her mother provided her with and remained steadfast in her determination to fulfil the mission she had been entrusted with. If she fails, she would drop low in her mother''s eyes, but if she succeeded... she might just prove her worth to her mother and everyone else.
They traversed through the narrow tunnel-like path until it opened up into a wide expanse, where numerous paths sprawled in all directions like the intricate web of a spider. The twisted passages wound their way into the darkness. Isla pressed hard on her memory. She had never really been here before, but the map of the destination was imprinted into her head for insurance. If the map served her right, then the way should be . . .
"That way," Isla''s voice trailed off as she gestured towards a wide opening, prompting Zael to follow. This pattern repeated a couple of times more, with identical passages instilling doubt within Isla regarding the accuracy of the mental map imprinted on her mind.
Perhaps it was deliberately designed to confuse humans and safeguard whatever hidden secrets lay within this place.
If that was the case, Isla''s curiosity was piqued. Could such elaborate craftsmanship be the work of monstrous insects? The thought fascinated her. The extensive web-like tunnels, connecting various pathways, appeared once more, identical to the previous three.
"This should be the final one," Isla said with uncertainty. "Let''s go."
However, just as she was about to step forward, the ground beneath her gave way, scaring the shit out of her as she was about to fall. Panic surged through Isla as she instinctively drew upon her comic power, only to be met with the searing pain coursing through her veins. She continued to draw energy, but at this rate, she would be delayed, and...
Zael went out of his way to save Isla. The lanky elf swiftly lunged forward upon hearing Isla''s yelp, grabbing hold of her arms as both of them began to swoop down. Using his quick reflexes, Zael grasped onto a rocky protrusion of the walls, stopping their fall.
"By the Preserver," the stalwart elf croaked, catching his breath. "This is a pit."
Isla swallowed hard as she peered down into the abyss of darkness below. "The map!" she muttered, disbelief colouring her words. "It wasn''t supposed to be like this."
They were not supposed to encounter a flaming pit on their path. According to the map, they were meant to take a few more turns and arrive at their intended destination. If there was any.
However, Isla realised that they were chasing ghosts and contemplated abandoning the mission. But first, they had to find a way to escape this predicament.
"Human," a voice assaulted her mind abruptly, disrupting her thoughts. "Why have you come to our dwelling?"
Isla blinked, her eyes searched into the darkness that shrouded everywhere. The voice she had heard echoed in her mind, leaving her momentarily stunned. As Zael pulled her up, she mentally replayed the words, trying to make sense of them. It was a brief and unexpected telepathic communication, so swift that she couldn''t perceive its formation or dissipation.
Yet, it was a clear indication that they were indeed in the presence of the spiders she had been searching for.
"Hello?" Isla called out tentatively, her voice reverberating through the murky pit. Doubt gnawed at her, as the vast darkness and the silence enveloped her words. She reached inward, channelling her spirit power, allowing herself to be intoxicated by a false sense of confidence. It was a desperate attempt to bolster her courage. "Is anyone there?"
Silence greeted her. Yet, she felt compelled to try again
"Isla, are you alright?" Zael''s concerned voice broke through the stillness, confirming that the telepathic transmission had been intended solely for Isla.
"Someone just spoke into my head," Isla explained. "And it didn''t sound human, by the way, the voice spoke."
¡°Could it be?¡± Zael said with hesitation, pulling themselves up from where they fell. ¡°What you¡¯ve been looking for?¡±
"Perhaps," Isla replied, uncertain. Her heightened senses tried to pierce through the shroud of the darkness and sensed something. A presence. An ominous one, staring back at her, but the obscurity prevented her from discerning its true nature.
[??? - Empathic Spider - ??? - ???]
Chapter 26 - A Sliver of Divinity
[? - Empathic Spider - ? Lvl ???]
Her [Identification] failed to find anything worthwhile, but that only heightened Isla''s apprehension. This creature was easily over a hundred levels higher than her. Possibly more, considering it gave off a similar aura of power as her mother.
Then another thought crawled up in her weary mind... If this creature was already at the same standing as her mother... how terrifying was the All-mother, the matriarch she was to meet?
One thing was certain, however¡ªthey were in a more perilous situation than she had initially realised.
Isla took a deep breath, regaining her composure. Well, some form of it. The air in this part of the dungeon felt stuffy, with a coldness that permeated the underground atmosphere, even in the absence of any wind.
"Hello, is anyone there?" she called out again.
"Go back, humans. Time has passed for negotiations," the voice responded sternly.
Isla''s senses sharpened as the voice echoed once more. Although she had prepared herself for such an encounter, the voice came and went like the wind, leaving no trace to follow and determine its origin. It was evident that whoever was addressing them had made a mistake, assuming both of them to be humans. In reality, it was a human and an elf, but from a distance, the distinction might not be apparent.
Isla contemplated her response when she heard Zael speak:
¡°Whoa, I just felt something trying to access me through mental sense,¡± he said, alerted ¡°but when I caught onto it, the touch recoiled. Whoever it was, they are definitely far superior in mind arts.¡±
Isla frowned and recalled all her mother¡¯s advice after she was given this mission.
Never try to trick them, or lie. Her mother¡¯s voice echoed inside her head. They were like running lie detectors and way too distrustful of anything other than their own kind. Be careful.
If they find even a trace of deceit or ill intention, I''m not sure what they would do. It has been many years. Although our treaty remains, we can''t expect everything after years of no communication. This is the first real mission you¡¯ve been given, Daughter.
You¡¯re into the stirred water now. Use your head well, you''re going to need it just like all your other abilities.
¡°Hello,¡± Isla greeted, taking a deep breath. ¡°Are you a spider of this dwelling? We¡¯re not here with any ill intention.¡±
She waited for a few seconds for any reply, only to get her expectations thwarted. ¡°I, Isla Remone, came here with a decree from House Remone and the empire. On accords to the treaty, you must show me unrestricted passage through the Gate and let me present myself before the Great Mother.¡±
Isla brought out the scroll from her bag and held it in the darkness. ¡°It is for,¡± ¡ªshe paused for a second¡ª ¡°the All-Mother.¡±
Isla wasn¡¯t sure if the one that talked with her was still there, or if she was just talking to the wind, but before she could come up with something else, something came out of the darkness. It was a swift string-like thing that caught onto the decree and yanked it away from her hand before Isla could collect her wits.
"What the . . ." The action was so fast that even Zael hadn¡¯t anticipated this. If it was an attack, they would be down already.
They waited, exchanging glances, more alert than before, channelling their energy.
"It has been some time," the voice resounded once more, dripping with scorn and fury. "I thought I wouldn''t be surprised by humans anymore, yet here you are, continually astonishing me with your audacity. Again and again, you never cease to flaunt your arrogance!"
The transmitted voice lingered in Isla''s consciousness, its grudging tone causing her to reconsider her next words.
"Go back, human," the voice echoed, reverberating through her mind. "And Treekiller. There is nothing for you here."
It became apparent that this time, it wasn''t only Isla who received the communication. She could discern it from the pained expression on Zael''s face. Just the mention of the term "Treekiller" had caused Zael to tense up.
Isla''s fists clenched tightly. The exchange left her unsettled. "Wait," she called out, taking a step closer to the pit. "This is a matter of great importance, I¡ª"
Her voice was cut off as something shot towards her. Reacting swiftly, Isla caught it with ease, only to discover that it was the decree. A gasp escaped her lips as she noticed the slimy web that now draped the scroll.
"I hope it is the last time I speak with you," the voice declared one last time. "According to the terms of the accord, you are granted passage into our dwellings. You can creep around as you wish, but we can no longer guarantee your safety as we once did."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
"Wait!" Isla shouted once more, desperation lacing her voice. "You cannot abandon us like this. You are meant to lead us to the Great Mother and present...this decree. It holds great significance..."
Her pleas fell on deaf ears as she continued to shout into the empty pit, receiving no further response. The one transmitting the voice departed, and along with it, the ominous feeling that had weighed upon her vanished as well.
"So," Zael said hesitantly, his gaze... their gazes fixed on the darkness, still overwhelmed with the whole conversation. "That was a dead end."
Isla released a deep breath, her energy drained, as she slumped down near the edge of the pit, tightly clutching the scroll. The chance to redeem herself was gone just like that.
She had endured countless perils, faced certain deaths, and here a single spider dismissed her as if she was but a common tavern wench. Could she return to her mother with nothing to show but failure?
The cold snickers of her siblings echoed in her mind, mocking her from all sides. Isla gritted her teeth and struck the ground, smashing stones in her frustration. The overwhelming sense of defeat consumed her.
"Don''t get too carried away. You''re dangerously close to the pit," Zael reminded. His voice lost colour as well.
Isla scowled at Zael, even in the darkness envisioning his handsome features and chiselled jawline. Damn it. She knew she was directing her anger towards him unjustly. Given all she... they had endured together¡ªfighting countless battles, being crippled by poison, and nearly succumbing to death''s grip¡ªonly to have it all crumble in a matter of minutes.
Isla had failed, and she had failed miserably. The entire mission had become an utter catastrophe from the very beginning, and now she had no choice but to return empty-handed.
Yet, she couldn''t abandon Javi, who was still in danger from those men. She had no clue where they were and how she was going to do it. Those bastards were after her, so their paths were destined to intertwine, whether she desired it or not.
Well, at least Gavin will shut up about her failure after she saves him.
"So, what''s our next plan?" Zael asked, rocking back slightly with his arms resting behind his waist. "Are we going to turn back after coming this far?"
"No!" Isla exclaimed through gritted teeth. "We''ve covered thousands of miles, traversed the treacherous Hanbad rainforest, and encountered dangerous monsters, beasts, and rankers. We''ve endured a life of suffering for the past two months¡ªpoisoned, robbed, stabbed, starved, and on the brink of death twice. I refuse to return home empty-handed after enduring all of this. I won''t go back unless I have something to show for it."
Her last phrase was overly loud for just Zael to hear as if she wanted the Empathic spider to hear her.
Zael sighed, and let out a chuckle. "What do you plan to do, then?"
¡°The voice said we have free passage into these dwellings. I¡¯m going to use that."
***
***
I hate this place! Shai screamed out of her mind, as she missed her footing and fell into the abyss. That''s the issue though, she had no freaking feet.
Her only consolation was that the foe--which forced her to jump into the chasm--could relate to the same sentiment of not having any feet.
It was a huge basilisk, a Lvl 38, Copper-ranked creature. Although it couldn''t hold a candle against the horror of the thing she found slumbering near the corrupt pool, the creature was beyond her level to contend with.
Shai regretted not swapping [Stealth] into her Skill slots before getting out of her hole. Perhaps that could have let her escape its eyes... No time to regret it now...
Shai wasn''t sure if she could survive a fall of a couple of hundred metres. Even if she could, she was certain she would be heavily injured, if not fatally wounded. Merely the thought of it was unsettling, much less the idea of finding out firsthand.
As the cold wind brushed against her narrow form, Shai mustered her strength and thrust herself upwards from the Copper-ranked basilisk, shoving a [Force Shield] against the creature. Sadly, her escape from the creature didn''t solve the dire predicament she was in.
Shai was in free fall, swooping down into a pit alongside the vile beast.
Beneath her, the pit yawned with foreboding darkness, as if a kaiju monstrosity opened its maw to devour everything in its path. Shai didn''t have the luxury of pondering what was in the depths of the pit. She refused to succumb to her fate.
She re-established her grasp over [Empower] with the enhanced perception of [Golden Eyes], hoping that would be enough to save her from the impact of the crash. In a desperate attempt to cushion her fall, she emptied her Inventory, unloading all the squishy Bloodcudding Mushrooms and purified flesh. Anything was better than colliding with the rugged surface.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn''t empty the entire contents of her inventory, time was short.
Thankfully, Shai managed to position the unloaded items beneath her, in between herself and the vile creature. As she continued to descend, the absence of high air resistance in the pit allowed each object to fall at its order.
First, the massive basilisk, then the Mushrooms and flesh, which fell in a heap a couple of metres away, and finally Shai herself. She kept her eyes open despite her overwhelming anxiety.
With a crash, her narrow form plunged into the mound of mushrooms and monster flesh, sinking deep into its depths. Shai emerged unharmed, much to her relief.
To her delight, the same couldn''t be said for the wretched corrupted creature. The basilisk weighed well over a couple of thousand pounds. Even the heap of mushrooms and flesh would be of little help to it if it managed to fall over it.
But it didn''t. Instead, the Twisted Basilisk now lay a couple of metres away, its form bloodied and battered. Its bones were shattered and cracked, its muscles twisted, a huge jagged stone sticking out of its lower body. Despite its grievous injuries, it clung to life.
Not for long.
Without wasting a moment, Shai shot towards the enormous creature, gathering her primal essence to [Empower] herself. Dizziness lingered in her head, but slaying this abomination took precedence over her own disoriented state. She would deal with her well-being once this vile spawn met its end.
With the aid of [Empower] and [Golden Eyes], Shai''s mouth dug into the bloodied vulnerable creature, injecting deadly poison. She dug a deep hole into its body and unleashed a barrage of [Arcane Shots] to hasten its end.
The basilisk convulsed and contorted in a last-ditch effort to survive, but it couldn''t escape the fate that awaited it.
That''s what you get when you try to devour this little me, Shai cried in her mind. She knew the creature couldn''t hear her. However, the fear it had instilled in her fuelled her anger to act this furiously.
[You have slain Twisted Basilisk (Copper) Lvl 38.]
_____
CHapter 27 - Quest
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
QUEST
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 12. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 13. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
Let''s. Fucking. Go! Shai winced desperately, laying flat atop the corpse. This creature was over three times her level. That didn¡¯t mean it had thrice of all her attributes. No, it possibly had more than sheer physical strength. She knew she was no match for this Twisted Basilisk in a fair fight.
Its Physique had possibly reached triple digits, but its attributes were likely severely imbalanced. Its Mind, for example, could have been in single digits, top of being deranged from corruption. Shai wasn''t merely speculating, her [Golden Eyes] were privy to such insight.
Shai''s train of thought was interrupted as System Grandpa''s voice rang in her mind.
[Congratulations! You have triggered the Quest: Vying the Apex Predator for defeating an adversary above your station.]
[Quest: Vying the Apex Predator
Once is luck, twice is a coincidence, tenth is the Apex Predator. You have defeated enemies above your station once, repeat the action nine more times to claim the title of Apex Predator.
Requirement: Kill ten adversaries a rank above you. (1/10)
Reward: Evolution of the Mark Predator into Apex Predator.
Penalty: Failing this quest will close all paths to Predator marks, or marks of similar routes.]
Shai''s heart raced with excitement as she contemplated the quest. She forgot about her previous thoughts and the prospect of looting the massive corpse.
Shai might not know much, but one thing was certain, a Mark held immense value for her survival and growth. Shai felt blessed to possess three, even though she hadn''t truly earned two of them. But that didn''t dampen her desire for more.
Defeating Copper-ranked creatures would surely be challenging. Still, if she targeted those in the early stage of the Copper ranks, the chances of success were greater. Like if I can make one fall into the pit...
With twelve more levels to grow, Shai believed her potential surpassed that of most creatures she would encounter in this dungeon. She might just succeed in obtaining the mark before advancing to Copper rank if she worked wholeheartedly.
Shai returned her attention to the corpse before her, but her gaze couldn''t help but drift to the surrounding area. Despite the looming darkness, her [Golden Eyes] enabled her to sense numerous jagged protrusions jutting out from the ground at an interval of a few feet. Each one of them was a high, sharp, tough stone spike, like the one impaling the basilisk''s body. Lethal enough to fatally wound Copper-ranked creatures.
Suspicion began to grow in Shai''s heart as she surveyed her surroundings. Even the walls of the pit were full of these dangerous, jagged stone protrusions.
That reminded me, how did I fall?
Much of the blame fell to the basilisk without a doubt, but Shai wasn''t foolish enough to engage in combat next to a pit. In fact, she hadn''t even noticed the pit. It wasn''t merely due to the darkness. Something else was at play.
Shai stored the pile of ration back in the inventory before prying open the basilisk''s head to loot the copper-ranked core. It was a small red gem, just looking at it with normal eyes you couldn''t tell it vibrated with terrible power. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Shai could digest it if she ate it, but this was the core of a corrupted creature. It would only leave an unpleasant taste in her stomach and possibly the taint. She stored it away and began examining the pit. Fortunately, there were no other creatures to bother her.
With deft skills, Shai scaled the walls, manoeuvring her way through the rugged stones and jagged protrusions. She didn''t have to climb far before she stumbled upon something intriguing. She didn''t know what she was searching for, only that she craved something unusual and captivating, but what she found caused her to be overwhelmed altogether.
Her movement seemed to trigger a hidden mechanism on the wall, as before she could even register the danger, a fist-sized projectile struck her. That wasn''t the end of it, though. The ball soon unravelled, unfurling into a net, like those used for catching fish. It captured Shai, hurtling her downwards to the ground again.
A hidden trap? What in the world is this place? Fortunately, her panic was short-lived as it turned out that the netting was designed to capture creatures much larger than herself.
Shai could move within the confines of the net and create a hole freely. It took some effort, but she broke free from her entanglement.
Moreover, the webs of the net seemed exactly of the same material as the Empathic spider silk. Shai had eaten that stuff before. She couldn''t be mistaken there. This revelation led her to consider two plausible explanations for the creator of this trap.
It was either the intelligent, empathic spiders who inhabited this place, or other creatures who hunted the spiders for their silk and constructed this place. Shai had in mind to believe the former, even if she was unsure if the spiders were capable of creating these traps.
For a better examination, Shai enabled her [Golden Eyes] to its fullest extent and observed.
There were no mysteries the [Golden Eyes] was unable to unearth if she knew where to look.
The walls of the pit, Shai couldn''t help but notice the intricate layers of weird geometrical formations etched throughout the surroundings. Arrays of these mysterious scripts connected to each jagged protrusion and various other locations, creating a complex network, not identical, but similar to the mushroom farm.
But back then, Shai had been too engrossed in her hunger and greed to study more of it.
Shai gazed upwards, her heart thumping louder with excitement. Her [Golden Eyes] almost failed to penetrate the shroud of darkness that enveloped the maw of the pit. This place wasn¡¯t natural.
The intricate traps laid showcased a cunning design that enabled the creator to hunt with minimal effort. However, the creation of trap constructs and instilling them in the pit should require a substantial effort. Shai believed it was a worthwhile investment, considering the functionality remained intact.
Hmm, perhaps. Shai''s mind constructed a plan as she became overwhelmingly interested in script formations. Her plan centred around utilising the trapped pit to its fullest potential.
However, before committing to any decisions, she needed to ensure that the pit was truly abandoned. The last thing she wanted was an encounter with an angry empathic spider mama defending its territory.
Shai couldn''t help but feel her interest drifting back to the intricate script formations carved onto the walls and even the web constructs, as she moved out for scouting. Even if she couldn''t utilise them to their fullest, Shai had a genuine desire to unravel the mechanisms and understand how they operated.
For hours, Shai scouted the surrounding areas. She came across many corrupted creatures, but no intelligent spiders, much to her delight. On top of that, she stumbled upon two more pits, similar in build, adorned with script constructs and traps. One of them was in complete ruins, while the other one was in a slightly poorer state than the one she fell into.
Shai finally understood why she didn''t see the pit, as it turned out an illusion was at play there. The more she examined their inner workings, the more intrigued she got. Her expertise didn''t even let her understand a tenth of their workings. Thankfully, her [Golden Eyes] let her see every bit of their intricacies if she put her mind to it.
It was as if the spider mama forgot to hide or camouflage the secret magic laying thinking there weren''t any intelligent enough species in this dungeon. Well, Shai planned on surprising her.
The whole trap formation seemed to run on a single power source, which barely kept up the illusion construct, much less the other constructs. After she got some ideas about how it worked, Shai got to fix it.
The idea of getting out of the dungeon escaped her mind in front of the precious Mark to be had. Then again, getting out of the dungeon wasn''t so easy. She had tried it before, and it led her here.
Hmm, perhaps it is fate... It is my calling.
Chapter 28 - Marvel
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Marvel
Marvel worked every one of her eight legs to their fullest as soon as she freed herself from Serenity''s cobweb. She was supposed to get another round of scolding, but the commotion caused by her siblings swarming around Serenity and the teachers presented the perfect opportunity for her to slip away.
Marvel hastened toward where Solace was expected to be. Her intention was clear¡ªto express her complaints about Serenity to Solace and gain a deeper understanding of their predicament.
Serenity merely offered a few passing comments, mentioning that they were addressing the issue, which only infuriated Marvel. That was why she was going to Solace to get some answers.
Midnight might possess the most knowledge about the danger, given her position of authority, but her intimidating presence made her unapproachable. Instead, Marvel decided to approach Solace. Solace was everyone''s teacher and older than anyone she knew. Combined with the fact that Solace was always caring and understanding, Marvel believed she stood a good chance of getting what she wanted from her.
At the very least, she expected to learn something that Serenity would never divulge, hiding behind excuses like "you''re not ready" or other web-spinning nonsense.
Marvel manoeuvred upside down along the path, taking several turns until she finally arrived at a deep pit. Countless interwoven webs formed a magnificent structure in the pit that one could only fully appreciate by exploring every inch of the place. Marvel''s own dwelling, which she took pride in showing off to her siblings, paled in comparison to this masterpiece crafted by Solace over centuries of honing her skills.
Initially, she had the urge to plunge straight into Solace''s pit, but that would have been ill-mannered, and she knew better than to display bad manners when seeking help.
Suppressing her urge, Marvel directed her mental senses toward the pit. Within mere seconds, her consciousness delved deeper into Solace''s abode, disregarding all the ordinary objects, in search of any signs of life. Much to her disappointment, there was no trace of Solace.
Although she encountered some other creatures¡ªSolace''s pet projects¡ªthe true owner of the dwelling was absent. Solace seldom ventured far from her abode, except for her irregular teaching sessions with the younglings.
Then Marvel remembered their predicament. Perhaps Solace ventured out to investigate. It wasn''t too difficult to imagine such a possibility.
Marvel''s mandibles chattered with boredom as she circled the pit, scouring for any sign of Solace. Marvel was aware that Solace was probably doing something important, but that did little to alleviate her irritation, especially since Serenity might send someone after her. Marvel had to meet with Solace, and the sooner, the better.
Today, luck appeared to be on her side as a familiar mental presence tingled against her consciousness, causing her to spin instantly.
"Marvel, dear," a voice entered her mind, "what brings you here?"
"Solace!" Marvel''s eyes gleamed with joy as she faced towards where Solace''s voice came from. Without wasting a moment, she leapt out and used her web to swiftly move toward Solace. She covered several hundred metres to finally catch sight of the familiar silhouette of Solace, standing tall above her.
A pristine grey figure stood over nine feet tall, pared with centuries-old scars, covering her entire form. The most prominent scar was a horizontal deep cut crossing her abdomen, reaching from one side to the other, accompanied by the absence of her front-row appendages.
Rather than making her appear crippled, these marks only served to make her more intimidating, particularly to those who did not know her well. Solace was the exact opposite of her fearsome appearance, the very contrast of Midnight, who appeared small and beautiful, but was truly terrifying in action.
With the passing years, the vibrant novelty in Solace''s eyes had faded, replaced by weathered wisdom. However, the genuine affection that radiated from her remained ever-present¡ªtime had not managed to diminish it in the slightest.
Solace belonged to the fourth generation. Born twelve hundred years ago, she was over a millennia older than anyone else in their clan. Aside from the Great Mother, whom they all revered but had never met, Solace was like the towering tree under whose shelter all her siblings and the older generations flourished.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
It wouldn''t be inaccurate to say that she was the true mother figure, the matriarch of their clan, despite never voicing such intentions or seeking to usurp the Great Mother''s throne.
Solace unfailingly acted in the best interests of their clan, and she earned the respect of everyone for her unwavering dedication. Over the years, she could have chosen to leave like others did, challenge the authority of the Great Mother, or even do whatever she pleased¡ªshe possessed the strength to do so in her prime. However, she chose to remain, ensuring that their home remained whole for centuries, regardless of the personal sacrifices she had to endure.
"SO?"
"Solace," Marvel transmitted, her mental wave brimming with excitement. "You won''t believe what I''ve been through today. First, I was playing¡ªI mean, teaching the other kids how to shoot webs. By the way, Sanctity is improving greatly, and so is Haven, although she tends to argue with the others a lot. Maybe in a month or two, they''ll make even more progress.
"Alright, where was I? Oh yes, Serenity. She came to the school and declared a recess out of nowhere. I tried to voice my complaints along with others, but before I could gather more siblings, she announced the Ultimate Eight-legged Championship for this month, even though we always hold it after the Luminous Night. I thought she did it on purpose, to create a problem for me in making my statement and¡ª"
"Oh dear," Solace gently nudged Marvel''s legs. "Slow down, Marvel. I''m not going anywhere."
Marvel complied, while Solace transmitted her signature calming wave that worked wonders on soothing children. That soothing wave was all too familiar to Marvel. Like many others, she had been raised with it. But she was bigger now, stronger. She didn''t necessarily need it, but it did make her feel better. So she didn''t complain. At least nobody was watching her.
"What happened?" Solace asked.
"Serenity tied me up," Marvel complained immediately. "She trapped me, enveloping me in webs from head to toe. She left me completely immobilised and unable to express myself all the way from the school to here, right in front of everyone else. By the Great Mother, can you believe this?"
"Oh, that''s very rude of her," Solace responded with the same fondness. "I''ll give her a mindful scolding when I see her next time."
Marvel''s eyes beamed.
"But if it''s Serenity, she must have had some reason to tie you up, don''t you think?"
Marvel acted as if she hadn''t heard, her enthusiasm flooding through her transmitted thoughts. "Oh, oh, oh, I almost forgot. We encountered something truly extraordinary. You won''t believe me when I tell you, but that thing¡ªit was absolutely..."
Marvel couldn''t find the words to fully describe it, but the excitement pulsating through her mental wave conveyed the feeling well enough. Especially to Solace, who was a master a reading empathic pulses.
"It must be something of great significance for you to be acting like this," Solace said, her curiosity piqued by Marvel''s unusual state. "What is it?"
"It''s a snake," Marvel blurted out the secret with the same level of enthusiasm, forgetting all about the secrecy she promised Serenity. Well, it was Solace, she was sure everything was fine.
"A snake?" A look of surprise crossed Solace''s empathetic pulses.
"Yes, it''s a snake," Marvel continued. "It''s a unique, small, white snake that can talk. I thought it was something Serenity had captured and wanted to show to the others, but she let it go. I chased after it, wanting to catch it. That''s when Serenity tied me up and let the snake escape. Oh right, she told me you are supposed to teach me Cosmic Arts. Can we start now, so that I can teach that snake a lesson?"
"Hmm." Solace''s upper pairs of eyes darted around as she processed Marvel''s words. "A snake that Serenity let go? Dear, you know I have lived for centuries, but old age doesn''t make me all-knowing. You need to provide a clearer explanation."
"Oh, right¡ª"
Marvel was about to continue when a third voice entered their mental link, growling at Marvel immediately. "I think I can offer a better explanation of the situation than Marvel."
Serenity dropped down next to Marvel, her disapproval clearly conveyed through their shared mental wave. Marvel inched closer to Solace, knowing that only Solace could save her from further discipline.
"Marvel," Serenity called out, her mental pulses devoid of emotion. "Aren''t you supposed to be on cleaning duty right now?"
And aren''t you supposed to mind your own business?
Chapter 29 - Cheat
"Marvel," Serenity called out, her mental pulses devoid of emotion. "Aren''t you supposed to be on cleaning duty right now?"
And aren''t you supposed to mind your own business? Of course, Marvel didn''t voice that retort aloud. She nervously chattered her mandibles together, unsure if her excuse would suffice.
"I... I just wanted to talk with Solace," her empathic pulses wrung, lacking confidence. Seeing the disapproving gaze and tone of Serenity, she contemplated disappearing from the scene altogether. "I''ll go clean now."
Marvel hadn''t even taken a step as Serenity''s voice rang in her mind. "Stay right there. I won''t let you out of my sight for a while."
"Now, now, Serenity, dear," Solace interjected. "Don''t be too hard on her. I remember another child just like her, always causing mischief and playing pranks on her siblings relentlessly. It was always Midnight or Silence who would send her to me for discipline. Does that ring a bell, Serenity?"
By Solace''s tone, it was evident who she was referencing. Still, Marvel''s eight eyes widened at Serenity, who seemed to have lost all her confidence and dignity just with the sentence.
"Alright," Serenity conceded, "we won''t dwell on that. First, Solace, there is a more pressing matter we need to address."
"Is it about the intruders?" Solace asked, her pulses remaining steady and unchanged.
"Yes," Serenity confirmed. "But how do you know? You know what, never mind that. It has been a long day, and I forgot who developed our security scripts. There are three individuals¡ªIron rankers--who are likely looking to trespass into the Gate. Midnight is seeking your assistance."
"Three humans?" Solace repeated, her expression growing serious.
Serenity sent a higher-order affirmation mind signal, which was almost too hard for Marvel to understand. "We know their whereabouts. Oh, I forgot to mention, Mother communicated with me today. She instructed us to evacuate into the gate when it opens."
Marvel''s interest was piqued, but she remained silent, fearing that Serenity might dismiss her from the conversation once again. The fact that the Great Mother commanded them to evacuate into the gate indicated something very wrong with their home.
Solace''s eight eyes fixated on Serenity. "Tell me everything Mother conveyed to you," Solace commanded, her pulses stern and deliberate. "Word for word."
Serenity paused, a hint of alarm in her demeanour, but she complied nonetheless. Marvel shared the same of what Serenity felt, though it was more awe-inspiring in her case. She had likely never witnessed Solace in such a focused state. Solace had always appeared as an elderly spider nanny, possessing wisdom surpassing everyone else''s.
With the wealth of experience she accumulated over the centuries, there was almost nothing that could shake her. Yet the mere mention of All-Mother transformed her.
Serenity explained the situation, the Great Mother''s orders and the actions they were taking in response, along with the state of their dwellings.
Marvel''s eyes widened as she absorbed the information. Did they truly have to abandon their home? Marvel was barely two years old and lacked extensive knowledge and experience regarding beast surges or other threats that their clan had faced in the past. Still, evacuating the entire clan due to a few iron rankers seemed overly cautious.
Perhaps it was only a temporary measure, and they could return once the threat had passed. The idea of venturing inside the gate had not even crossed Marvel''s mind yet, as leaving her home consumed her thoughts entirely.
Uncertain of what to make of the situation due to her limited experience, Marvel could only gaze at Solace. Solace had retired from her role as the protector of the dwellings centuries ago in the title, but in practice, it was a different story. Nobody knew how many days, weeks, months, or even years she had spent labouring behind the scenes, ensuring others could sleep peacefully. Even now, when it seemed like they could handle the situation, Serenity sought Solace''s advice and guidance.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"What is Midnight''s view on this?" Solace asked as they started to move into her dwelling.
"Communicate first, and if it fails, resort to assault," Serenity responded. Her tone implied she didn''t have much hope for peaceful negotiation, considering their history with intruders throughout the ages. Problems with humans were rarely resolved without violence. "She has asked you to oversee the evacuation. Luminous Night is in about a week. You must ensure that none of the children wanders off on their own before then."
"A full-scale evacuation into the gate," she mused. "That will be more troublesome than you can imagine, dear. I''m not sure if you are aware, Serenity, but the core area is not what it used to be. It wouldn''t be incorrect to say that the inside is just as perilous as the outside. There is a reason we are prohibited from residing there."
Serenity appeared oblivious to the implications behind Solace''s words. "What are you talking about?"
"Never mind, since Mother has requested it, it shall be done. We exist for her, after all."
There was a peculiar gleam in Serenity''s eyes upon hearing Solace''s last statement, but she did not pursue that line of conversation further. "Also, can you provide some of your script constructions?" she asked. "They would be useful for the assault."
"Of course, you can take anything you need from my lab," Solace replied, considering other stuff. After a moment''s thought, she added, "Just remember to leave a log of the items you have taken."
"Thank you, Solace," Serenity responded brightly. Then she considered bringing up another matter, but her gaze shifted towards little Marvel, who was observing them keenly. Serenity inwardly sighed. "There is something else I would like to seek your advice on, but before that, let''s take care of Marvel."
As she finished, Serenity proceeded to capture Marvel once again with her webs.
"Solace, save me!" Marvel transmitted secretly to the elderly spider. "I don''t want to clean a place that we''re going to abandon soon."
Solace let out a deep breath from her orifice. "It''s alright, Serenity. Leave her to me. I will take care of her punishment. The evacuation will require time and effort. I could use her help there."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Serenity, dear," Solace said, her empathic pulses infused with genuine affection for both younglings. "You were an absolute menace at Marvel''s age. Marvel can''t even imagine what you got up to back then. Yet, you turned out just fine after taking on some responsibilities. I''m sure Marvel will do just fine."
"I''ll do even better," Marvel chimed in, her pulses filled with confidence.
Serenity didn¡¯t hold on to Marvel¡¯s punishment after that, believing Solace would take care of it. And it was for the best. "Well then, I''ll go collect the scripts now. See you later, Solace. Thank you again. Marvel, try not to trouble Solace too much."
Serenity leapt away, her web shooting towards the stone ceilings. Utilising the web, she swiftly made her way out, swinging along the way. Marvel felt a sense of relief as she watched Serenity depart. She had successfully manipulated the situation to avoid her punishment.
"Now, Marvel," Solace began, shifting the focus back to their previous conversation. "You were saying something about a snake?"
Shai toiled tirelessly for hours, moving from one hole to another, meticulously referencing scripts of all the pits to understand them better. There wasn''t much fixing to be done with Shai being handicapped by her form, expertise, and time. And even if she could fix a few of the basic scripts, she didn''t bother with them.
Simply because there was no need for it. Shai wasn''t looking forward to farm levels from the pits for a long period. She was only there to gain the mark. The script formations and constructs available there would suffice if she put an extra bit of effort into it.
At first, Shai feared she wouldn''t level up with the trap doing most of the work, which seemed to be true in some cases¡ªbut thankfully, these traps that were intact weren''t that ruthless, designed to only capture the creatures, not kill them outright.
Shai needed to finish them off to gain the lion''s share to level up. This was created to game the system.
Hey, Grandpa, please don''t be mad at me, Shai preyed, even though she never had been much pious. I''ll only cheat a little.
Chapter 30 - Grinding Begins
CHAPTER THIRTY
GRINDING BEGINS
[Would you like to learn Spellforging?]
[Aceept | Decline]
Shai stared at the notification for the third time and let out a hiss. You know, I do, Grandpa... It''s just that my skill slots are limited...
Sighing inwardly, she turned her attention back to the pit... It had taken a great deal of work, but the trappings were almost complete.
Most of the necessary scripts were working, from menacing jagged stone splinters adorned with augmentation and sharpening scripts to the illusionary concealment script formation that hid the pit completely from above.
For her safety, she disabled a few of the concealed traps like the web shooter from the wall and stored them in her inventory. It would be a nasty surprise if she got herself captured in the middle of a fight. Those corrupted creatures certainly wouldn''t give her time to free herself.
She also found a few illumination constructs, capable of temporarily blinding creatures residing in darkness. Shai had checked (accidentally), and the effect was surprisingly blinding. Her task mostly revolved around disabling traps and disconnecting impaired scripts from the core formation. It might sound effortless to the ears, which it was compared to creating all the formations, but it certainly wasn''t easy.
Shai had to work for hours, second-guessing and checking their functionality and then finally erasing their connection. Not having arms, she had to use her head and fang, which seriously was more taxing than she ever imagined. It was akin to using a hammer to swat a fly.
Well, her skills improved throughout the process, which was a plus.
Whoever created the formation didn''t want to kill the creatures instantly. No, the traps were only there to give an advantage. Then again whoever was the creator of them didn''t need to hunt down copper-rank creatures to level up. Their expertise in making these constructs spoke volumes of their talent and power.
The creatures Shai had hunted were completely dull in mind, and only knew the language of violence. Well, being born stupid wasn''t their fault, nor was falling prey to corruption, if she thought deeply about it. It was the combination of their inherent stupidity and a hostile environment that led them down this path. But Shai could do nothing about it.
She wasn''t even a real doctor, as her sister would say, much less a healer, who could cleanse the taint that could deteriorate one''s cognitive capabilities, turning one into mindless killers.
For a final touch, Shai even hung several pounds of purified flesh from spider silk over the concealed pits, allowing them to dangle from the ceiling.
After sacrificing precious time from her sleep and meditation, Shai was done settling everything down. She finally let herself relax in one small crevice on the wall. Her muscles ached with familiar soreness, gradually dulling after the taxing work. Hunger once again gnawed at her stomach. Some water would soothe her parched throat, but frankly, she wouldn''t even object to drinking blood in this instance.
Thankfully, she had some water stored within her inventory. Thank god, she couldn''t expel all the contents in her terrible attempt to fall save into the pit. Finished dining, Shai refrained from resting at first. Instead, she started meditating to recover her lost energy. She needed to be prepared for a fight.
Don''t get too worked up, Shai reminded herself. The traps were merely set up. It would take hours for prey to fall into it. Now all I need to do is wait for the fish to take the bait.
System Grandpa didn''t wake Shai out of her meditative state, as she had muted most notifications just by willing it. However, after several hours when she awoke from her sleep, she found something changed in her. Intuitively, she was aware she had levelled up more than once.
Shai accessed her [System Log] to find several notifications.
[Your traps have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 13.]
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.[Your traps have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 19.]
[Your traps have killed a Twisted Lice Lvl 7.]
[...]
...
[Your traps have killed a Twisted Basilisk Lvl 23.]
[As you''re not the original creator of the traps, a large portion of the essence is confiscated.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 14. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 15. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
Now we''re talkin'', Shai hissed in delight. it took the lives of forty-seven creatures for her to level up twice. Perhaps she could have gotten more levels if her essence wasn''t confiscated. Well, Shai wasn''t complaining. Who could have imagined these creatures would come in running to their death just smelling a few dozen pounds of flesh?
These twisted creatures couldn''t resist throwing themselves into the trap for a few measly scraps of flesh. Moreover, there were still a few higher-levelled creatures in the pit, alive even after the two hundred metres fall.
I should have considered this beforehand, she chided herself.
Surviving the full two hundred metres depth of the pit wasn''t something all creatures could accomplish. Those that survived were the strongest among the tainted creatures, like copper rankers--exactly the prey Shai needed to hunt. Hopefully, the fall had wounded them enough to make it easier for her.
She could only hope that no stray spiders would wander in this direction and stumble into the trap. Although the number of spiders in this region of the dungeon was quite scarce, as the tainted creatures had mostly taken over, there were still plenty of dimwits among the arachnids, especially among the males.
[Your traps have killed a Twisted Weaver Lvl 9]
Shit! Did I jinx it too early?
Shai couldn''t help but wonder how the spider mama would react if she discovered that Shai had inadvertently killed one of their partially deranged kin. Granted, she had placed a warning sign for the spiders, but she wasn''t sure if these crazed arachnids could even comprehend it. The females possessed enough intelligence to understand, but Shai held little hope for the insane males. The spiders had other important intruders to deal with, so perhaps Shai would escape unscathed this time.
What puzzled Shai was why these sentient empathic spiders still resided in such a place. Considering the intricate complexity of this dungeon, she was certain it wasn''t your average, low-level, run-of-the-mill labyrinth. Serenity had mentioned something about being the guardian of the gate, which likely explained why the spiders still inhabited this taint-infested territory.
What''s so important about the gate that they would endanger their whole kind?
While the Concept of Empathy might grant them a resilient mental fortitude, Shai questioned how long those young ones could endure the overwhelming taint. Keeping thousands of baby spiders in this environment had to be the worst choice imaginable.
Let''s just hope I gain my mark and a few more levels before the spider mama comes after me, she mused.
And it''s not like it was completely her fault. That particular spider was stupid and incompetent, to begin with. It literally had webs and could scale the walls easily with those nasty-looking legs. It could have easily taken her bait and left, but nah, I''m a big baddy spider, Imma jump into a concealed pit, even if I can climb down slowly.
It could have saved itself by shooting a web into the walls. Perhaps the madness had consumed its head completely, dulling even its basic instinct.
It was an act of mercy to eliminate these tainted creatures rather than leave them trapped in their insanity, consumed by greed and contamination. Shai had her justifications.
But the more Shai thought about the dumb spider, the more annoyed she got, and with annoyance, she became murdery.
Thankfully, she had her target set in the pit.
The traps had successfully dispatched giant centipedes, lizards, lice, badgers, and a spider. By the time Shai descended into the pit through the hole, her eyes were burning with fury. The pit spanned only about a few dozen square metres, lined with jagged elongated splinters on both the ground and the walls. Most creatures fell prey to the fall, and the rest were from the jagged stone spikes.
Several lifeless bodies were skewered on the spikes, a couple on the brink of death, while the majority lay motionless. Dead.
However, what captured Shai''s attention and ignited her fury were the two robust copper-ranked creatures that had managed to survive. Two centipedes, their thick carapace saved them from getting mortally wounded from the fall. No, they didn''t bore the wounds of the fall at all.
Currently, they were engaged in a heated dispute over her prize, feasting upon all the other corpses as if they had been starving for months. Moreover, they didn''t seem to have fallen prey to the concealment formation, which lay open, currently. Shai''s eyes blazed with indignation at the sight.
You motherless morons! she screamed inwardly. How dare you take my stuff?
__________
Chapter 31 - Rage
Just as the hiss escaped her mouth, Shai detected something wrong with the overwhelming amount of emotions she was feeling. Well, it was mostly anger, fury, and rage. But they were all the emotions she felt these days. She wanted nothing more than to shred these bugs into oblivion. To dare take her things and ruin the pit that she fixed painstakingly.
She had worked relentlessly for a day, exhausting herself physically, mentally and spiritually to repair it to a workable station. Yet these mindless fucktards reaped from what she sowed. They even destroyed the large concealment constructs that took a whole four hours of incessant labour. Did these insects have any clue how hard it was to carve with your teeth? Her fangs were hellish sore like she had chewed stone all day.
These insects! I''m going to enjoy tearing them apart.
Shai knew that her anger was misplaced. She was blaming these mindless creatures for something, not their fault.
But Shai didn''t care. For the first time since her rebirth, Shai let her fury out of control. She gave in to her instinctual need for blood and violence. These insects would pay for claiming what was hers. Oh, they will pay dearly.
Shai''s blood pulsed with an intense rage, as she crept behind the huge centipedes.
[Centipede - Corrupt Chilopod Lvl 33]
[Centipede - Corrupt Chilopod Lvl 28]
[Golden Eyes] didn''t let the rage cloud her judgement. The icy blood flowing through her veins kept her composed, as she stealthily entered the pit, her eyes fixed on the battle between the two corrupted centipedes.
Both of these tainted creatures were of copper ranks, but one''s halo was a deeper shade of red than the other. Evidently, the deeper red- larger one- possessed greater strength. It dwarfed the smaller centipede, with its towering presence. If its huge form hadn''t hindered its movements, it would have already defeated, eaten, and digested its counterparts with its overwhelming raw power.
It tossed the other centipede aside easily, but refrained from engaging further. Its insatiable appetite took precedence over finishing a potential enemy. It swiftly devoured the remains of a lizard, while the defeated smaller centipede settled for one of its fallen brethren on the sidelines.
A cold glint appeared in Shai''s eyes as she refused to let them leave alive.
The centipede was closing in on its prey, preparing to feast upon the lifeless body, when Shai charged from behind. She hissed fiercely at the grotesque creature, catching its attention.
The centipede barely had time to turn as Shai retrieved a fabric ball from her inventory and swung her tail with precision, shooting the fist-sized ball towards the monster. The numerous-legged creature remained oblivious to its impending doom. Shai didn''t forget to infuse the ball with potent essence, activating the construct.
In a burst of white smoke, the ball exploded mid-air, catching the centipede off guard. It screeched in surprise, whirling around for any sign of danger. However, it was already too late for the creature. The white smoke wasn''t merely a diversion. The thick smokey air enveloped the humongous creature as it condensed into thick strands of spider silk, ensnaring the multi-legged beast within its intricate weave.
The ball was a script construct of one of the finest designs Shai had ever eyes laid upon. And it was pretty effective.
In a matter of seconds, the cobweb entwined with the struggling monster, rendering its attempts to break free utterly futile. Caught off guard and disoriented, the centipede squirmed helplessly, unable to apprehend the situation it found itself in.
Shai had managed to free herself from the engagement of the construct pretty easily with her tiny form. While it did capture the centipede in its trap, rendering it almost helpless, she remained uncertain of how long the construct would endure. Of course, she had three more of these constructs, though she didn''t plan on wasting them.
With no time to waste, Shai ceased all contemplation and proceeded to quench her rage. She whipped her tail against a rugged stone and shot forward, energy surging through her being. [Empower] and [Golden Eyes] worked in perfect combination, granting her a slight advantage against the copper-rank monster''s defences, as she charged forward, ready to penetrate the creature''s formidable guard.
But before that, she unleashed [Arcane Shot], aiming to sever the centipede''s antennas while the writhing beast desperately attempted to free itself. Shai didn''t stop to see if the antennas were severed, her form rammed into the trapped monster. All essence power in her possession resonated within her, empowering her as she pierced through its segmented body.
The centipede was hard, even though she pierced into the segment between its carapace-like body. The obstruction weakened the effects of the [Empower], yet Shai clung to her rage, her resolve. Just a little longer. She had to endure a little longer.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Shai unleashed a barrage of [Arcane Shots], biting into the little wound she created. The creature spun in a desperate attempt to break free. Unfortunately for the centipede, Shai was nearing the climax of her assault. Once she broke through to its touch defence, wreaking havoc in its inside became way easier.
The creature''s lower region was relatively weaker in defence, so Shai carved her way there, digging her head through. With the rage in her heart usurping her reasons, Shai triggered [Essence Eater] as her maw scoured through the gore inside its body.
A terrible suction force arose out of her mouth--well, all parts of her body, but it was horribly powerful on her maw--engulfing the tainted blood and disgusting flesh inside of her.
Thankfully, Shai stopped her madness before she reached her limit.
Covered in a gruesome blend of purple blood and gore, Shai emerged from the hole she had carved in its body. The Corrupt Chilopod was still obstructed by the lingering webs, though it almost managed to get back its mobility.
She studied the writing creature, shooting a glare. Half the job is done, she acknowledged, fully aware that the second half would prove significantly easier.
The centipede continued to writhe and roll on the ground, as its purple blood and brownish goo seeped from the gaping hole. Shai briefly contemplated allowing it to suffer, knowing its Recovery wouldn''t allow it to heal any time soon. Well, it would likely die, though it would take time. Besides, she had another centipede to attend to.
The hefty centipede glared back at her, screeching in a deranged display of madness. It finally broke free of the entanglement.
Yeah, go ahead and screech. You''ve made your point, horrid spawn! she retorted with disdain.
The centipede charged at her, its numerous legs thrusting it forward.
Oh, here we go again!
Shai''s head hurt in a throbbing ache, resulting from her bold moves, but she didn''t stop. She readjusted her mindset, ensuring her grasp of her essence.
Shai stood her ground and retrieved another ball from her inventory. It was considerably smaller than the previous one. She knew it wasn''t a Spiderweb construct, but a different type designed to blind her target.
With a swift sweep of her tail, Shai hurled the ball toward the hefty foe, infusing it with the necessary energy to activate its blinding effects. The centipede struggled to evade the path of the construct, but the blinding light was meant to assault from all directions. The pitiful creature stood no chance against it.
With everything set, Shai turned her head and shut her eyes. Well, partially, as she didn''t have freaking eyelids. Still, she saw an overbearing flash of light on for a moment, and then it went all dark again. Shai waited for precisely two breaths of time and turned to the centipede again.
The figure of the centipede greeted her gaze, momentarily blind, and caught completely off-guard, despite its preparation. That was what happened when you only had hunger in your head.
Seizing the momentum, Shai swiftly followed up with her second round of attack. First, she shot [Arcane Shots] into its momentarily blind eyes, wasting them for good, and then shot straight to the gaping wound she created.
The creature''s agonised screech reverberated through the pit as Shai persisted, launching successive waves of [Arcane Shots] and biting her way through again.
The corpulent centipede tore in agony, writhing and rolling, trucking against the jagged stone as darkness engulfed all hope.
Shai left it alone, as her work was already done.
The grotesque insect, now with a bloodied head, rolled erratically in the pit, repeatedly slamming its body against jagged stone splinters.
Once Shai caught her breath, she decided to grant it mercy. She released a final shower of [Arcane Shots] in rapid succession, bringing its death.
[You have defeated Corrupt Chilopod (Copper) Lvl 33.]
It was almost laughably easy to dominate the creature, despite its level being double of hers. The taint presented it with unprecedented strength, but it almost made its stupid brain dysfunctional. In the end, it proved to be nothing but an incapacitated opponent when faced with a prepared enemy.
Shai repeated the same fate for the smaller centipede. It was already weakened from blood loss. Corruption didn''t offer any healing capabilities, rendering its demise inevitable.
This battle required minimal effort on Shai''s part, proving the advantages of being well-prepared. It was clear that her opponents, mindless fools that they were, posed no real challenge if she was prepared.
[You have defeated Corrupt Chilopod (Copper) Lvl 28.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 16. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 17. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
Shai achieved victory. By successfully eliminating the two nuisances that had destroyed her traps and stolen her belongings, she came two steps closer to gaining the Mark. Yet, despite her accomplishments, it didn''t make her feel good at all.
The underlying anger still simmered within her. Shai let out a weary sigh as she surveyed the pit. The anger that burned inside her went beyond the immediate situation.
It wasn''t solely directed at these mindless creatures. There was no reason for her to unleash such intense rage upon these insignificant insects, even if they wasted much of her resources.
It was all that spider''s fault. Serenity. Because of her, Shai had to rummage into her past, the past she went above and beyond to seal away in the back of her mind. But once it was unleashed, she couldn''t bottle it back anymore. Not all of it.
It stung. It writhed. It made her helpless.
With a hiss of frustration, Shai rammed her head against the lifeless centipede, trying to release her pent-up emotions. She wanted to scream, to express her anguish, but no tears welled up in her eyes. All that escaped her lips were hisses.
I refuse to be helpless. Not anymore.
_ _ _
Chapter 32 - Spellforging
Shai collected the essence cores one after another and wiped the gore from her pristine white scales. She sighed, peering at the wreckage. It took her half a day of incessant labour to fix everything, yet it only took a little time to regress almost everything back to the old state.
Fortunately for her, there were two other pits open to be used, though she still needed to put the work into it. The creatures would ruin them no matter how much effort she put into them. It was essentially futile to keep all three intact. She would rather work harder to get the result in the shortest time.
But before that, she needed to take care of [Pain Resistance]. It reached 92% mastery after her incessant labour. Damn, all her skills rose to a great degree, especially those that were Essence based.
She decided spellforging to an effective way to raise Pain Resistance. She would kill two birds with one stone.
Firstly, the concealment formation malfunctioned. Thankfully, there was no fault in its scripts, it was left as it was, only the line of the power source was damaged¡ªShai could fix that exhausting her primal essence to redraw the ley lines. The concealment formation was constructed with a very delicate set of scripts, assuming it used light and shadow elements to hide stuff from others'' sight. If she could...
Isn''t that what I''m missing to have [Golden Eyes] at its full capacity?
Shai stopped what she was doing. Her eyes peered into the scripts carved on the wall, though she wasn''t examining them. Her mind drifted off to somewhere else. Could she somehow comprehend the Concept of Light through these scripts?
Shai wondered how some complicated runes arrayed in symmetrical form could produce different results. Like those empowering scripts do the same thing as her [Empower] skill did. How could an inanimate formation of runes do the same?
Shai didn''t have to think long to find an answer.
It was in the intent¡ªthe will of the maker that forced those scripts to act the way they did. Like how different techniques and abilities needed distinctive energy manipulations along with the Intent, the scripts were about the same. Along with the correct form of runes, one needed a will behind it.
Could they be related somehow? That was the biggest question because if they were, Shai would be able to learn a lot of stuff¡ªwhich wasn''t limited to runes¡ªjust by studying the script formation.
Grandpa, bless that kind spider, who didn''t bother to obscure the scripts, Shai prayed inwardly, hoping the system really listened to her call.
Shai couldn''t be considered a novice in spellforging, even with all she learned from studying the formations in the pit.
Shai made a mental note to put more thought into it after she was done with repairing the pits.
Midnight was more affable in the tactical meeting than usual. It could be because of all the uncertainty she didn''t have the answers to.
Serenity didn''t know what to think of that. Her sibling was certainly taking it all in stride, delighted that she was getting all the recognition she desired and deserved. Well, that was Elegy.
Previously, Midnight''s decision was absolute, leaving no room for debate. Now, she seemed more open to considering their opinions. It could be attributed to their growth or the prolonged absence of their Mother, which had taken its toll on Midnight since Silence departed.
Serenity was unsure about many things, but she certainly didn''t like this Midnight. It was like their pristine white elder sibling had lost her charm.
"Serenity? Serenity?" Midnight''s voice rang in her mind, as she broke out of her stupor.
"Hmm, yes?"
"Do you have anything to contribute to the discussion?"
"No," transmitted Serenity with a mental pulse of dismissal.
Midnight turned her attention to Elegy. "What about you? Anything else you can think up?"This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Eager to impress Midnight, Elegy stepped forward confidently. She always seized any opportunity to express her views, even if they contradicted their superior''s plan. Midnight had always valued such dissenting opinions, even if she rarely expressed them.
"I believe initiating an attack would be a better approach," she suggested. "Intimidation has proven ineffective against humans, as history has shown. This is a tough time. We should strike hard first and resort to intimidation later."
Midnight considered Elegy''s input, acknowledging the merits of her argument. "That''s another approach," she conceded. "However, we must remember that humans do not easily forget. If we merely drive them away with force, they will return with greater numbers. Holding grudges is their thing as if it fuels their determination."
"But if these humans harbour ill intentions, mere intimidation may not deter them easily." Elegy was clearly sceptical of the effectiveness of intimidation against iron-ranked individuals, considering all of them were iron rankers themselves. "Ignoring all the advantages we had of our home ground, we might surrender one of the crucial factors in if we try to intimidate them through warning. If they break through our clever tricks, we''ll lose the element of surprise."
Yes, the element of surprise was their crucial factor. The humans might have faced the highly erratic male empathic spiders, but definitely not the three of them, the best of their clan, excluding Solace.
"It might even make them more cautious, complicating our task," Serenity chimed in, further reinforcing Elegy''s point.
Midnight sent a wave of agreement, acknowledging the validity of their concerns. "That''s why we will combine both approaches," she declared after a brief moment of contemplation. "Elegy, you will establish telepathic contact with them while Serenity and I prepare for the attack simultaneously. However, before that, we need to ensure the safety of the young ones. Serenity, bring me the latest report of the evacuation from Solace. As for you, Elegy, come with me. We will organise the ambush in the meantime."
With their roles assigned, they embarked on the tasks they were given, aware of the challenges that awaited them. The stakes were high, and the actions they took in the coming nights would determine the fate of their home.
It''d been over a day since Shai''s mental lapse, and she managed to hunt one more copper creature in the meantime, bringing her closer to the goal.
Six more to go.
Shai hadn''t slept at all after the event. Her body was terribly fatigued, her mind was impaled with a stabbing headache. Setting up three pits and taking care of all the creatures that fell onto them had been more taxing than she realised at first, but her level was growing, she was improving. In the end, that was all that mattered.
The three pits had trapped over a couple of hundred corrupted creatures in the meantime, bringing Shai''s path to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 19. The sheer number of kills it took her to a level was astronomical, but at this rate, she should be getting at least two levels every day.
Unfortunately, Shai wouldn''t be able to keep it up any longer without a little rest. As much as Essence Weaving was pleasant, it was taxing for both her body and mind. Perhaps spirit too, but all the abstract concepts about the soul eluded her. After a certain point of work, she couldn''t go on for much longer without rest.
She checked on her skills.
Moreover, her energy reserve had been depleting pretty easily in quick succession. She only managed to go so far with the help of [Essence Eater], but even the Spark of Hunger had its limit.
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 69% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 41% | Arcane Shot (D) - 34% | Essence Weaving (E) - 45% | Pain Resistance (E) - 98% | Force Shield (E) - 23% | Empower (E) - 63% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 84%
Almost there! The last few percentages of mastery in Pain Resistance had been hard to bear.
Eventually, Shai took a break for a few hours, setting aside the bait hanging over the pits. These creatures couldn''t get enough of the rancid flesh. Hopefully, they wouldn''t jump into the pit like they did when there was nothing to drive their avarice.
Shai meditated for a couple of hours and recovered the depleted cosmic energy. The prickling sensation was gone by the time she was finished, leaving her almost empty-minded to try out the scripts.
Shai had a terrible urge to try that out. True, she wasn''t even a copper ranker, but most of her attributes reached the copper rank standard if she counted the bonuses. Well, it certainly doesn''t hurt to try, Shai thought. Who knows, I might even get something out of it.
Shai started with one of her absolute favourite scripts, even though it wasn''t the simplest, but her familiarity with it led her to choose it. Empowering script.
Shai didn''t even know if it was the correct name of the script. But the effect had been the same compared with the skill counterpart.
Shai learned the actual work was way harder when she got to it. Moreover, she hadn''t proceeded to carve on stones, but work on the very empty air.
Her essence weaved in the air, translucent, kind of like an odd, ethereal character that was too hard to understand, but before she could even join the second rune, it dissolved into thin air.
She tried again. And again. Until her essence ran out. It was certainly harder than it looked.
However, Shai wasn''t depressed, not when she heard System Grandpa''s announcement.
[Congratulations! You have learned Spellforging (E).]
Chapter 33 - Engineered Path
Shai lost herself in the art of Spellforging, even if she didn''t have a skill slot open to swap. Hours slipped away as Shai got busy, attempting to master the Empower script. She had tried over a couple of hundred times, and tirelessly failed all the time, but her determination remained undeterred.
Failure meant death, and death was unacceptable.
Although she didn''t find success, Shai was eager to make all the swift progress she was making in the process. A surge of exhilaration coursed through her when System Grandpa spoke into her mind.
[Congratulations! Pain Resistance has reached 100% over in E-rank. +4 Physique, Mind, Spirit.]
[You have no Evolution points remaining to evolve the skill.]
Huzzah! Shai celebrated and immediately surfed through the [System Log] to find the prompt and swapped the skill with Pain Resistance.
[The process may leave the user vulnerable and extremely fatigued, please confirm your decision.]
[Accept | Decline]
She froze for a moment and then examined her surroundings. She secured herself in a deep crevice and accepted the prompt.
[Extracting the skill, Pain Resistance (E)]
[Creating Skill Reservoir to shift swapped skill... Proceeding...}
A squeak escaped her, as Shai writhed in agony. Grandpa, you mentioned nothing about pain!
Thankfully, it only lasted about a minute and wasn''t anything worse than what the Golden-tailed eagle did to her.
[Pain Resistance (E) has been shifted to Skill Reservoir successfully.]
[Pain Resistance (E) has weakened. You cannot improve Pain Resistance (E).]
Fine by me, just give me my new skill!
[Congratualtions! You have successfully swapped Spellforging (E) to your Skill slots.]
[Spellforging (E):
Mastery - 31%
Spellforging is the engineered path of Essence Weaving. It is a path as broad and mysterious as well. This skill uses the runic arts to manifest various effects which appear as miracles to observers'' eyes.]
Shai read the description and deemed her decision to be correct. The other choice would have been [Stealth (E)], but compared to [Spellforging (E), just the ability to hide herself paled in comparison. While Stealth was merely a skill, Spellforging was more like a vocation, which clicked right with her.
On that note, she still hadn''t cashed in the Insight of Concealment--the reward from unveiling the mysteries of the corruption. She had no clue what to do about it.
If Shai mastered the Concealment Script, she could lay it above herself to hide. Of course, it would be difficult for her to master such scripts... it was merely an example.
Shai went back to her practice. Unlike other essence-weaving arts, Spellforging required less essence and more mental fortitude¡ªsomething Shai found herself somewhat proud of.
Then how strong the empathic spider would be who mastered all these scripts?
Shai shuddered, disturbingly appalled. After all, her relationship with the spiders hadn''t been any bit cordial. It was almost impossible not to have a foreboding feeling.
They were sentient beings. Hunting them for mere resources just felt wrong, now that she saw the depth of their intelligence. She did have some grievances, albeit with the male ones, and with the Spider mama who tried to capture her, but Shai wasn''t foolish enough to justify those as her reasons to start hunting a race that likely held dominion over this weird dungeon.
Not to mention, she was tirelessly busy with studying. Who would want to go for life and death conflict when they can learn new interesting stuff? Not me.
Back to Spellforging she went.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Shai was ready to give her absolute best, as the subject intrigued her most profoundly in recent times. Even when her mental fortitude and cosmic energy waned at an alarming rate, Shai persisted, returning to her Spellforging after another round of meditation and replenishing snacks.
The Bloodcudding Mushrooms had been an absolute delight to her otherwise bland existence. It was not only a delicacy to her potent taste buds but also acted as a potent remedy for her dwindling mental fortitude and energy.
That is why the spiders cultivated these wondrous fungi. Shit, I shouldn''t have destroyed a portion of it just to hide evidence.
The Empower script demanded the precise arrangement of eight runes intricately formed inside a symmetrical octagon. Shai did it wrong initially, mistakenly attempting to create the runes in mid-air before establishing the proper octagonal structure.
Apparently, she didn''t need to carve the octagonal form in the array flag, they were already carved by machines. After growing accustomed to only carving individual runes, Shai overlooked this crucial point. Fortunately, she was quick to solve her oversight, though it only led to another round of exasperated attempts at shaping the perfect octagon in mid-air. It proved to be equally challenging, if not more so.
After all, the script required flawless symmetry in its formation.
It took two arduous hours of focused forging for Shai to achieve her first perfect octagon. Initially, she succeeded only two or three times out of ten attempts, but her success rate reached a fifty-fifty chance as she practised forming the runes within the octagon. It took four rounds of meditation and forging sessions.
Now, the runes she painstakingly created no longer dissipated when she moved to inscribe the next one. The octagonal shape was simply magical. If formed perfectly, with precise energy synergy coursing through its symmetrical structure, it prevented the runes'' energy from dissipating too easily.
Shai managed to inscribe the fourth rune within the octagon, completing half of the script on her first try before it disintegrated into thin air. Four again on her next try. Failure. Then four again. Always failing to incorporate the fifth rune. It was either a useless half-script or a complete failure, until after dozens of tries, she managed the fifth rune.
Progress was difficult but rewarding. Unfortunately, her cosmic energy ran out at that very moment to incorporate more, leaving her drained and frustrated.
Annoyed, Shai retrieved a couple of Bloodcudding Mushrooms and gobbled them up. She brought a couple more and devoured them too, settling back into her secluded space. [Essence Eater] working fast to restore a tenth of her whole energy reserve, but that wasn''t nearly enough.
Shai coiled her form and meditated, seeking to replenish her depleted energy reserves and mental fortitude. [Essence Eater] augmented this recovery process significantly, especially after consuming nourishment of high quality. After the initial boost of 10% energy, [Essence Eater] gradually slowed down the process of recovery. Nonetheless, the initial burst of 10% cosmic energy recovery within a few short seconds was no less than a lifesaver.
Her meditation practice didn''t progress at the same rapid rate as Spellforging. It was already standing at 54%. Hopefully, she would need a few more hours of diligent forging to successfully form her first complete script.
After a couple of hours of meditation, Shai was back at it again. She began by forming a perfect octagon, laying the foundation for runes to be filled within. Each rune she inscribed within introduced a new variable. Any imperfection in form or energy synergy could ruin the entire structure. There was no saving it once it broke, kind of like a glass.
Her attempt at forming the fifth rune failed, underlining the increasing difficulty of each addition. It became evident that the first rune was the easiest to master, while the last presented the greatest challenge.
The addition of each rune brought forth a new level of complexity, making the task of adding more runes even more difficult.
Unbeknownst to Shai, a whole day had slipped away without her successfully forming the sixth rune. But Shai was undeterred, too focused on the art that she lost the passage of time or her current state.
Her daily routine had become a cycle: Eat, meditate, spellforge, and repeat. She remained completely true to the craft, pouring her everything into it. The result spoke for itself.
[Spellforging (E): 64% Mastery]
[Essence Weavening (E): 59% Mastery]
When she was fluent in forming the sixth rune.
[Spellforging (E): 69% Mastery]
[Advanced Meditation (E): 84% Mastery]
At the seventh round of devouring and meditation the next day.
[Spellforging (E): 74% Mastery]
After she mastered the forge of the perfect octagon.
[Spellforging (E): 81% Mastery]
[Advanced Meditation (E): 90% Mastery]
[Mental Corrosion Resistance (D): 92% Mastery]
She stopped making mistakes completely in forging a half-script
[Essence Weavening (E): 59% Mastery]
[Spellforging (E): 88% Mastery]
Finally, she succeeded in forming the seventh rune, after an unknown number of the cycle.
[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 20. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
However, reaching the final milestone proved to be a gruesome task. Shai devoured hundreds of mushrooms, delved deeper into meditation, and reached Favoured Hatchling Lvl 20. at long last, she successfully forged her first complete spell script.
[Congratulations! You have learned the spell script of Empower (Tier-I).]
[Congratulations! Spellforging(E) has reached 100% mastery. You have taken the first leap into this path. +6 Mind, Spirit.]
[Spellforging (E) has advanced to D-rank.]
Chapter 34 - Improvement
Shai paid little attention to System Grandpa''s voice, her gaze fixated on the mesmerizing script, suspended in mid-air, emitting a soft, ethereal glow. Finally, I have succeeded.
Overwhelmed with joy, Shai leapt into the air, hissing madly in ecstatic celebration. As the moments passed, she redirected her focus to the script, still radiating a dim glow.
The script was a whole lot smaller. Moreover, she hadn''t tested it yet.
Shai inched closer to the spell script and leapt onto its surface. The octagonal script was fragile in appearance, but it exerted an attracting force the very moment she leapt onto it, being absorbed into her body. Instantly, Shai felt her blood exhilarating, her vigour rising, her body toughening.
It works. I succeeded. Shai bounced in triumph.
[Synergy detected between your Skill Empower, and the Tier-I script Empower.]
[Would you like to combine and evolve them into an Aspect?]
[Accept | Decline]
[The evolution process may cost varying numbers of evolution points. The incorporation of an E-rank Aspect usually costs 4 Evolution Points.]
The spell broke, and Shai tumbled to the ground, breaking out of her exhilaration. She stared suspiciously at the green text. Currently, she had zero evolution points, but she did have some unallocated points which should be enough to complete this incorporation.
But if I do that now, I won''t get the extra attribute points from mastering empower, do I?
While the prospect of an Aspect was welcoming, considering how useful all three of her aspects had been, she couldn''t just abandon free attribute points. She would just need a few more days to achieve full mastery in Empower (E). Not to mention her Empower Script was merely a Tier-I.
She wanted to do better than that. The path to mastering scripts involved stacking them both horizontally and vertically. The more scripts she could stack, the greater their collective power would become.
Shai forged another script, achieving success on her second attempt. Once again, she absorbed the empowering script feeling herself uplifted to a new height.
Satisfied, Shai retrieved her meal from the inventory, while also opening her system page.
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 20
Laws: Concept of Hunger (Early)
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute:
- Physique: 34
- Mind: 44 (+20%)
- Soul: 52
- Recovery: 35 (+10%)
Special Attributes:
- Insight: 2
- Evolution: 0
- Fortune: 9
Unallocated points: 11
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (A) | Poison Affinity (D) | Essence Eater (B)You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 90% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 58% | Arcane Shot (D) - 55% | Essence Weaving (E) - 66% | Force Shield (E) - 35% | Empower (E) - 79% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 92% | Spellforging (D) - 1%
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I promise I won''t eat you...
[System Log] [Active Quest] [Skill Reservoir]
For a moment she basked in the glorious improvements she made. From a tiny little snake, she had come a long way... and that too in just--
It had to be longer than two days. To confirm, she accessed her Active Quest, [Advancement - I], which revealed that the time limit had been reduced to 6 days.
Holy hell! For how long have I been spellforging?
The answer was eight days straight. She thought it was more like three or four days at worst. But then again, looking at the improvements she had made, it kind of made sense.
Shai hadn''t caught much sleep in that time. The meditation did help, and that was the only reason she was still levelheaded, even if her internal clock was screwed.
Shai cringed when System Grandpa got to the part of the new Remark. She wasn''t sure if it was supposed to be a joke about her hunger, but it sure wasn''t funny. Come on, Grandpa, I''m not that bad.
Nonetheless, all things considered, Shai''s attributes grew at a remarkable rate just as her skills.
Six days and only 5 levels left. It seemed highly doable even if it was harder to grow levels as she was levelling up. But Shai still would like to become the [Apex Predator] before advancement. While the quest only asked to slay higher-rank creatures, Shai deemed Copper rank to be the easiest option. She couldn''t imagine getting mixed with the spider mama, or the dreaded basilisk even when she ranks up.
With that in mind, Shai prepared herself to return to the pits. Six more copper-ranked creatures to go.
Conveniently, Shai had been dwelling near the first pit she had operated. It had been eight days, and much of its structure seemed to have changed in her absence. She discovered some creatures didn''t require any bait to fall into the pit; the leftover corpses of her hunts were enough. Those were already devoured, replaced by a few wounded centipedes, lizards, and many savagely eaten corpses piled up within its depths.
Those that survived the fall or managed to climb down eagerly feasted upon dead creatures. However, there were too few dead creatures to quench the hunger of those tainted creatures. The infested feast only fueled a sense of dissatisfaction among them, leading them to fight amongst themselves to determine whose appetite was the strongest.
To her delight, two copper-ranked creatures were still alive and kicking among them. Well, only one looked alive and kicking, while the other seemed to be on the verge of death just from overeating.
[Centipede ¨C Corrupt Chilopod Lvl 29.]
[Skink - Corrupt ??? Lvl 44]
While the centipede battled its way to gain more food, the huge disgusting-looking skink just lay flat in its flabby form. The Centipede seemed right up the alley for what Shai was looking for. But Shai let it struggle for a while, watching from a hole above the wall.
The copper advancement had granted the Chilopod a tougher exoskeleton, carapace hard as a rock, and potent poison bite. The Chilopod''s poison should be slightly more potent than hers, though not as deadly.
Shai wondered what it would take to advance her poison affinity. Poison was extremely effective in battle. Should I consume poisonous substances to trigger its advancement? No, that isn''t how it is supposed to work.
As Shai mused, she noticed an opening in the centipede''s defences she could exploit. A level 20 lizard had breached its tough carapace in the midsection, leaving it vulnerable.
Shai''s predatory eyes gleamed with a cold glow, as she swiftly formed an [Arcane Shot], infusing it with all the liquid poison she was capable of.
Shai released the attack, as it whispered through the still air and struck precisely where she aimed¡ªat the very crack of the centipede''s wound. A piercing shriek erupted from the centipede. Caught off guard by the attack, it couldn''t fend off its enemies in time, as the lizard''s jaws gnashed against its thick carapace, nearly breaking through.
The other Chilopods collided with the wounded centipede, overturning it. The prolonged battle had taken its toll on the centipede''s body, rendering it more exposed to the toxins coursing through its system.
Shai didn''t leave it all to fate. As more wounds appeared in other parts of the centipede''s body, she swiftly launched a couple more [Arcane Shots]. The struggle would go on for an extended time. While it might emerge victorious against most of the odds, it would not win against the white serpent lurking in the shadows.
Exhausted and heavily injured, the copper-ranked creature struggled to deal with the remaining enemies. Its once agile movements were now sluggish. Dozens of its legs faltered, barely able to support its massive segmented body. Purple liquid seeped from multiple wounds when it finally dealt with the last one of its mad brethren.
The little white snake finally came into its view.
The insectoid screeched at her, finally understanding what went wrong with its approach to the fight. Well, perhaps it understood nothing, considering it lurched at Shai the very next moment.
Don''t worry, I''ll finish this quickly, Shai thought to herself, and set to work.
Unsurprisingly, the corrupt chilopod turned out to be the easiest opponent she had encountered at the copper rank. With her essence weaving skill improving and [Empower] far surpassing creatures of this calibre, Shai tore through its wounds, almost dissecting it.
[You have defeated a Corrupt Chilopod Level 30.]
Grandpa came with a victorious message, but Shai didn''t act like she achieved something great. What surprised her was how the creature gained a level.
Regardless, it was the fifth higher-ranked creature she hunted. Shai was getting the hang of it.
Chapter 35 - Emergency Quest
The creature actually levelled up once during its fight, even though its advancement proved insufficient against the little snake lady.
Unfortunately, there was no easy level-up for her. She cast her sight towards the grotesque skink.
Another one to go.
The entire pit lay in ruins, with traces of shattered formations spread all around; even the jagged stone splinters had been reduced to grime. Her eyes met the prime offender for all these crimes.
The skink was grotesque and colossal, hardly recognisable in its current form. It had scaly skins of reptiles, but the resemblance ended there. Now, it was nothing more than a repulsive mass of flesh and bone, twisting and contorting dreadfully.
The creature weighed several tons and could only roll around slowly, emitting squeaks that left Shai uncertain whether they were sounds of pain or twisted delight.
Will the same happen with that Chilopod if I leave it alone? That seemed likely to be the case. Regardless, its deranged, rotund condition made her job easier.
All she had to do was approach the creature, create a few holes in its body to let it squirm, and wait. The task would be accomplished without much effort.
[Skink - Corrupt ??? Lvl 46]
Shai paused, eyeing the creature, considering. How did this creature advance two levels during the short time Shai battled the chilopod? The answer was simple. Corruption.
The corruption infesting this dungeon felt inherently wrong to Shai from the moment she entered, but gazing upon this repulsive being, she wondered if she could feel any more disgusted.
Dark, malevolent energy oozed from the creature, surpassing the intensity of any other creature Shai had encountered so far. However, this didn¡¯t necessarily imply that the Skink was stronger than the massive basilisk. It was just that the Skink had bitten off more than it could chew and was suffering the consequences.
The dark, infectious energy leaking out was something it couldn¡¯t contain. Madness had taken hold of it.
Hissing in disgust, Shai descended upon it, channelling cosmic power through her weary body. Her head burned in an impaling sensation as the power surged through her channels, although it was nowhere near the intensity of the mental attack of the Empathic Spiders. A level-up was not enough to refresh her fatigued mind. But what about two?
With that, Shai charged towards the ugly creature.
[Empower] and [Golden Eyes] augmented her raw power and perception, which in turn boosted her essence-weaving capabilities. Shai lunged at the creature from a high position, crashing hard onto its back. With the creature¡¯s immobility, it was effortlessly easy to land a blow. Her teeth dug into its crusty flesh, as she injected deadly toxins into its system.
Abruptly, Shai¡¯s predatory sense screamed of impending danger, but before she could withdraw, her mind whirled and her world tilted. The Corruption of Feast clutched her firm, trying to succumb her to its mercy, but Shai¡¯s resistance was strong.
True, she desired power. But corruption wasn¡¯t the way of it. Shai wanted to be herself at her best, not some deranged, filthy creature that only knew to feast upon disgusting corpses.
Shai was reaching a point of victory against the assault, but at that very moment, the lizard rolled itself and trapped her beneath. With her head buried within the monster¡¯s body, she couldn¡¯t see anything. Her strength dwindled under the weight, making it challenging to free herself.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Goddamn it, Shai cursed, her body flattened under the immense pressure of the massive rotund lizard. Summoning all her wit and strength, she bit down on the beast¡¯s flesh, activating [Essence Eater].
Blinded, Shai could feel the foul blood flooding into her mouth, putrid and suffocating. Despite the struggle to breathe, she persevered, sensing the repulsive lizard convulsing in agony. It thrashed on the ground, rolling faster than before, as if trying to flatten the entire dungeon.
While the lizard¡¯s attempt to flatten the dungeon didn¡¯t work, it did cause enough havoc to feel tremors in the surrounding areas. Thankfully, that provided an opportunity for her to withdraw from the hole she had dug into its flesh.
Hissing in disgust, Shai slithered farther away from the lizard and threw up all the filthy blood she sucked. She wished she puked it all, but [Essence Eater] already started the digestion process. Shai was doubtful about what kind of side effect she would have digesting tainted blood, but she would have time to figure everything out after she dealt with this Skink.
The lizard screeched in frustration, unable to pursue Shai. Its rotund form undulated uncomfortably, contorting and twisting, trying to catch the white snake, but to no avail. At least not in its current bloated form.
Her initial impression of its capabilities was wrong. Although it was terribly sluggish, and didn¡¯t pose a threat if Shai wanted to disappear from it at this very instance, it still would be hard if she wanted to deal with it.
With her speed, intelligence, and skills, Shai held the advantage, just that she needed to be more persistent.
The lizard displayed far greater resilience than any other beast she had encountered thus far. Regardless of whether it had cheated its way to its current state, it lay like a boulder, an overwhelming amount of dark cosmic energy bleeding out of its body.
Right, I need to be careful of the corruption as well, Shai thought.
It would take at least half an hour for Shai to finish this gruelling battle. Hopefully, the rewards would be worthwhile.
Shai took some test assaults, shooting [Energy Darts] at the contorting creature, but all of them fell short, even though she targeted the same spot.
Shai launched another attack, this time aiming for the neck of the lizard. The creature, more aware this time around, growled in indignation but was unable to halt Shai¡¯s advance. She shot for its neck, ready to take a poisonous bite, but that hardly produced a result. Even though the creature was mostly motionless, it could reinforce its defence as its scales glowed with an innate defensive ability.
Shai kept at it for a time, attacking constantly at the same spot to break its defence. Eventually, she managed to inject all the leftovers of her toxins, though she didn¡¯t see any changes in its state. To be fair, the Skink already looked terribly ill with the sheer amount of corpses it devoured. There was no way for her to tell whether her poison taking effect or not.
Shai decided to wait, but seeing no changes in half an hour, she got back to doing it the hard way again.
She persisted in creating ruptures throughout its body, breaking through its defences. Her job was by no means easy, even though it wasn¡¯t life-threatening like most of the time. It was stressful doing her job while keeping track of the creature¡¯s rolling, or whether the corruption was having any effect on herself.
Her white form was drenched in lizard blood, her eyes weary and her body exhausted. Shai managed to penetrate the lizard¡¯s scales in a couple of places, but each time the beast rolled and hid the wounds, forcing her to start all over again.
Unfortunately for it, those cheap tricks wouldn¡¯t work on her again, as Shai struck where the lizard couldn¡¯t conceal all of its injuries simultaneously. From that point onward, her attacks were unrelenting. Her poison had minimal effect on this reptile, likely due to its venomous nature and corruption.
However, Death would inevitably come for the lizard. Sadly, it would be far from merciful. Slow deaths seldom were.
Shai couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of pity, but she suppressed those emotions and meditated to replenish her energy. Some Bloodcudding Mushrooms would have helped too, but [Essence Eater] was already busy dealing with the foul blood.
The lizard writhed in agony, its body twisting, contorting and rolling on the fattened ground of the pit.
Shai kept her eye open as she mediated, regaining her lost energy as well as watching over her prey. In a matter of an hour, she would be ready to resume the battle. Let¡¯s hope nothing goes awry before then.
At that very moment System Grandpa¡¯s voice rang in her mind, disrupting her meditation with bad news.
[Emergency Quest: Restore the Balance]
The entire Skysea hovers on the delicate law of balance. No creatures must defile that law without paying a price. The Skink had unintentionally triggered its unmaking, led by the maddening force of Feast. Stop its unmaking.
Criteria of Clearance: Stop the Unmaking of an Abomination.
[Reward: Quest.]
Chapter 36 - Abomination
I just couldn¡¯t help jinxing it, Shai cursed, barely comprehending what was at play here.
The putrid stench permeated the air, and the excruciating screeches reverberated through the empty pit. The enormous lizard wasn¡¯t screeching at her anymore, but shrieked in its madness, as an unnatural metamorphosis was transpiring within itself. Dark twisted energy surged and swirled around the bloated lizard, causing its flesh to undulate like waves in a turbulent sea.
Evidently, it wasn¡¯t a natural advancement, but that didn¡¯t matter at all if it succeeded in its unmaking. The very first thing it would do after advancing was bite the little white snake alive.
No way in hell Shai would let that happen.
Drawing her fangs, Shai lunged forward, piercing through the grotesque undulations of the flesh. Shai bit into the repulsive creature, clenching her jaw with her everything. Foul blood sprayed into her mouth, its sheer wrongness churning her stomach and convulsing her insides as if she was consuming something rotten and unholy.
There was no question about the abhorrent nature of this transformation. Before Shai questioned if she had seen anything uglier than this skink, but it appeared this lizard was in a competition with itself on being repulsive.
Shai ignored everything around her, as if she had lost all her senses, and continued tearing through the flesh of the lizard. System Grandpa¡¯s voice came announcing something, probably a skill update, but Shai only heard an incoherent murmur.
The massive lizard¡¯s amorphous mass bent to its will, reconfiguring itself into something superior¡ªsomething agile, powerful, and inherently predatory.
It had become a race against time. Who among the two would finish first? If Shai succeeded before the metamorphosis was complete, the skink would stay dead. However, if the lizard succeeded, it would be reborn as an abomination. Shai would face a far greater threat. An abomination¡ªwhatever that meant, it did not sound anything good to her.
The icy coldness of the lizard¡¯s blood numbed Shai¡¯s nerves, but she ignored the consequences and bit deeper into the monster¡¯s flesh, uncaring of the issues she would have to face later. After all, a stomach ache seemed far more preferable than encountering a higher-ranked abomination.
Her body was stained completely with purple and black putrid liquid, as she tore through the transforming lizard, causing it to writhe and squirm as if it had consumed shards of broken glass.
A mind-numbing, piercing pain seared through Shai¡¯s head, forcing her to pause her assault on the transforming lizard. Shai clenched her jaw and focused on fortifying her mind against the attack, creating a protective barrier in her mind.
Even after her rebirth, it seemed nothing was going according to plan. It felt as if an unseen force was toying with her from above, making each circumstance exponentially more troublesome and challenging to deal with.
My mind is an impregnable fortress, nothing can faze me. She continued on with this mantra until a realisation struck her like a lightning bolt.
The mental attack wasn¡¯t from the corruption. It was too focused and pure to be from the corrupting force of the feast, which meant the mental pressure could only be the work of the spider mama. For a moment, Shai was more delighted than worried, as she screamed into her mind, hoping the spider mama would be able to hear her.
Truce! Truce! I call a truce until we deal with this!
As she got engrossed in sending the message, she didn¡¯t notice the imminent threat next to her. The lizard smacked her forward with a pure force of energy, hurtling her through the air as she collided with the sidewall.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
The contorting body of the lizard ceased its squirming. Completely motionless now, though the thick blanket of energy never ceased swirling around it.
Thoughts raced through Shai¡¯s mind as she stared at the lifeless lizard. However, her focus wasn¡¯t solely on the defeated creature. Twisting her head in desperation, she searched for the big spider mama. It didn¡¯t take long to find an eight-legged creature glued to the wall of the pit, eying the still body of the skink.
More importantly, it wasn¡¯t the big spider mama, but a smaller counterpart, though Shai recognised the figure. It was the spider fledgling she met when Serenity captured her.
Shai moved out of the way, swiftly creeping to get the hell out of there. That seemed to alert the empathic spider as a mental assault poked her head again, threatening to breach Shai¡¯s exhausted mind. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed a barrage of curses at the spider, unsure if the fledgeling could hear her.
Most likely, she couldn¡¯t, or didn¡¯t, as Shai noticed the spider¡¯s attention returning to the morphing abomination. It wasn¡¯t dead, but seemed to be in some special form.
Fortunately, Shai wasn¡¯t the only one subjected to the mental torment of the spider fledgeling. Hopefully, the monster lacked any skills or abilities to protect itself.
Abruptly, the swirling power ceased, but the threat she felt did not. Regardless, it wasn¡¯t her problem anymore.
Hey Grandpa, I tried what I could, Shai thought, but now I lack the strength to continue.
Silently, she handed over the responsibility to the spider and made her way out, resisting the mental assault.
However, the spider wasn¡¯t letting her go so easily.
Suddenly, Shai¡¯s world turned upside down as she found herself entangled in spider webs, suspended in mid-air.
Hissing in frustration, Shai directed her attention toward the spider. I know what you¡¯re thinking; she tried to convey, but I swear, I didn¡¯t hunt any spiders intentionally. And this isn¡¯t my doing.
Marvel was small, barely three feet, but she loomed over Shai, her intelligent eyes gleaming with a red hue as if contemplating between eating her now or sharing with the others.
¡°Stay down, don¡¯t struggle,¡± Marvel prompted her, establishing a telepathic connection.
Shai glared at the young spider, staring at her in disbelief.
Hey kid, go call your mama, Shai expressed. This isn¡¯t something you can deal with.
Shut up, said the young empathic spider. She ignored her existence completely and put all her focus on the abomination.
Shai¡¯s expression turned to one of concern. In her mind, she mulled over the various scenarios that could arise from this unexpected encounter, contemplating both the positives and negatives of their interaction. You really don¡¯t what--
However, her pondering was cut short by a horrifying screech that reverberated throughout the pit and beyond.
Then came Grandpa¡¯s report with the foreboding news she feared.
[New Quest: Hunt the Abomination]
You have failed to stop the abhorred creature¡¯s unmaking. It had turned into an abomination, abandoned by both life and death. Rest its soul to restore the balance.
Criteria of Clearance: Kill the Abomination
Reward: Quest.]
I really should have gotten out of this pit when I had the chance.
¡°Quest?¡± Marvel expressed through the link. ¡°I haven¡¯t had one of these in months.¡±
However, as she read the context of the quest her expression shifted similarly to Shai.
Their attention shifted back to the grotesque lizard, which transformed into something else after reaching Iron rank. It was no longer ugly, nor was it as rotund as before. The process had converted the excess fat into newfound strength, raising it to the status of an iron-ranked predator.
The lizard now stood upright, towering over Shai and the spider, its terrifying maw emitting spine-chilling screeches. Its scales had reshaped, albeit still bearing the holes Shai created, but no blood gushed out from them.
The creature had not healed completely, as if it saw no purpose in doing so. Its eyes lost their vitality in the transformation, now blazed with menacing red. Although it couldn¡¯t go through the unmaking process without hindrance, it still turned into an abomination, no longer bound by the law of life or death.
[Wyrm - Cursewalker (Abomination) Lvl 54]
Shai exchanged a glance with the spider, who lost all her sassyness. ¡°It may be a little late to say this,¡± she said, ¡°but it¡¯s just about time you should call your mama.¡±
Marvel was about to reply to her, but their attention returned to the abomination as it staggered on its first step and fell completely on the second.
Chapter 37 - Cursewalker
[Wyrm - Cursewalker (Abomination) Lvl 54]"
Marvel stepped forward cautiously, observing the monster with a perceptive gaze. Her mandibles clattered together, expressing her lack of appreciation for the misshapen creature. Her lack of experience in dealing with this sort of circumstance was apparent to Shai.
"It reached Iron rank," Marvel expressed, "but it can never compare to Serenity or Elegy. Besides, its mind is already dull and fuzzy... Maybe I can deal with it."
With that, the young empathic spider assaulted the newly advanced abomination with her brain waves. All her eight eyes bore into it, as if glaring was compulsory for the mental attack. The abomination screeched in a blood-chilling scream under the pressure of Marvel¡¯s mental attack.
Shai freed herself from the webs and looked around to search for a way out.
The young spider might be good, but she was only a copper ranker in the early stage. Shai¡¯s [Golden Eyes] showed Marvel was merely a Fledgeling Weaver Level 33. She might be good even by the Empathic Spider¡¯s standard, but Shai believed that this abomination would squash her to death eventually if she kept on. The difference of aura between them was staggering.
"You¡¯ll pay dearly if you underestimate it," Shai urged, already a few dozen paces away.
Marvel was unsettled with most of her attention needed on the Cursewalker. Although her mental assault tormented the creature, it agitated her as much, leaving no room to reply to Shai. Marvel simply turned a couple of her red eyes towards Shai, staring intently.
"You¡¯ve got to stick something harder into its bloody head," Shai advised, "until there¡¯s nothing left. Got something like those?"
Marvel shot more of her glaring gazes at her, using four eyes this time.
"Don¡¯t stare at me like a dolt," Shai scoffed. "Kill it before it learns."
The empathic spider faced the abomination as it stood up once again. Waves of invisible mind attacks emanated from her, showering onto the creature¡¯s dull head. It screeched in agony as the prickling pain writhed within its head, or whatever remained of it. Not much, they assumed.
The Skink, or rather the evolved Wyrm, went berserk, unable to handle the relentless mental assault. It was a stark reminder of how low attributes in certain aspects could leave one vulnerable, especially against a skilled assailant like Marvel.
The Wyrm moved in sluggish, undulating steps towards the Fledgling Weaver, but with each step, it seemed to gain momentum. Its horrifying maw opened, with rows of jagged teeth that clearly agitated the young spider. It was an utterly horrifying maw, with over four rows of dagger-like teeth.
Every fibre of Marvel¡¯s being screamed at her to flee, but she stood her ground, pushing all her might into her empathic attack. She even shot bolts of webs, attempting to slow down the abomination. While the webs did manage to impede its path, the monster effortlessly broke free, almost crashing into Marvel.
Thankfully, the fledgeling spider¡¯s agility was superior to that of the newly transformed Cursewalker. Before disaster could strike, she shot webs on her back, spun, and thrust herself forward, overtaking Shai in one swift motion. The abomination chased.
"Hey, this isn¡¯t fair," Shai complained through the still-intact communication link as she slithered away from the approaching danger.
The Wyrm was clearly fixated on Marvel, but its gaze bore into Shai the moment it noticed the little white snake fleeing. It had not forgotten what Shai had done to it earlier.
For an instant, their eyes locked, and a bone-chilling dread gnawed at her heart.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
I¡¯m dead! Her instinct told her as she quickly averted her gaze, shooting forward, whipping her tail onto the ground. There was something ominous about the Wyrm¡¯s stare. It filled her with a sense of impending doom, triggering her insecurities and fears, almost paralyzing her. Some kind of sinister aura attack.
The Cursewalker screeched, and dark energy rippled around it, amplifying its wrath. Black tar-like essence oozed out of its mouth, quickly coalescing into a spike that resembled Shai¡¯s [Arcane Shot], but it exuded a far more menacing feeling.
The bolt of condensed darkness hurtled towards Shai, its deadly intent clear as day. Shai¡¯s danger senses were already on high alert, but they shot off the roof at the sight of the dark bolt.
Shai mustered the last of her essence, channelling it to her lower body and tail. She lashed out onto the ground again and burst forward in Marvel¡¯s direction. In one lashing, she closed the distance between herself and the spider by half, evading the bolt. And with a couple more lashings, she landed right on top of the Fledgling Weaver.
However, those lashings drained her energy reserves, as a throbbing headache riddled her mind, adding to her troubles. Shai had been pushing her limits for quite a while now. Even though gaining a level or two might provide some temporary relief, Shai would need a substantial amount of rest.
"What are you doing, Snake!" Marvel¡¯s mental waves struck Shai¡¯s fragile mind like a piercing echo.
"You can¡¯t leave me to its mercy," Shai barely managed to express. Her focus was on remaining coiled around the spider.
"It¡¯s all your fault!" admonished Marvel, her overwhelming mental waves battering Shai¡¯s mind. Marvel reached the wall, deftly dodging the black bolts shot their way by the Cursewalker. She wasted no moment admonishing Shai further and started scaling the wall, gaining an advantage over the serpentine lizard in movement.
"No, it''s not!" Shai was quick to refute, though she couldn¡¯t deny that some part of the blame fell on her as well. Ignoring the pit, the torment she had put the monster through before its transformation might have pushed it over the edge. However, she had no other choice. If she had left it alone, it would have turned into an abomination sooner or later...
Fine, fine, I was a little greedy after Grandpa gave me the quest. Grandpa had been so nice to me, of course, I would like to complete the task he gave me personally. All her justifications felt wrong. She literally bit off more than she could chew. Not that snakes chew stuff.
In no time, Marvel climbed halfway up the pit, her eight wondrous appendages working marvellously. The Cursewalker gave chase, lunging up in a horrifying leap, reaching nearly half a dozen meters. Fortunately, its weight hindered its balance, causing it to crash down into the depths of the pit with a horrifying screech.
Unrested at its prey getting away, the reptile shot those bolts of condensed darkness again. Thankfully, Marvel¡¯s near 360-degree vision allowed her to evade them all.
Corruption might be a cheat to ascend to higher ranks, but it simply couldn¡¯t replace genuine training. The Cursewalker¡¯s bolts were barely skilful, about the same level as Shai when she first learned [Arcane Shot]. It might be more lethal, but it could do nothing with that terrible precision.
Interestingly enough, Shai discovered that the black bolts were not only capable of physical damage but were likely to inflict some dark afflictions on whoever they hit. Whatever the afflictions were, Shai didn¡¯t want to find out firsthand. Her [Golden Eyes] allowed her the insight without getting hit.
Then again, the physical damage those bolts caused was already formidable enough, evidenced by the deep holes left in the stone wherever the black bolts struck. Shai didn¡¯t know if she could survive a couple of them.
That was one nasty attack. Shai couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. After days of tireless training, all she had managed to acquire were some foundational essence manipulation skills, while this fat Wyrm had gained such a terrifying skill simply by overeating. There was no balance in the world.
Well, it was an iron-ranked creature, even if it cheated its way into supremacy.
As they almost reached the safety of a higher spot, Shai felt weak. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was the relief washing over her or the sheer exhaustion from being overworked. It was probably a combination of both. With the addition of the eight-legged creature, of course.
Marvel let out a weird empathic wave through their telepathic link that almost felt wrong. Even though it seemed to have no connection with human behaviour, it felt like a moan of ecstasy.
Damn eight-legged monstrosity, it was eating my emotions...
Shai set her jaw, hissing exasperatedly. Fortifying her mind, she decided she would forgive this fledgling once for giving her a lift.
Marvel looked away and moved closer to the edge to glance down into the depths of the pit first, ensuring that the menace wasn¡¯t still on their back. She then turned her attention back to Shai, who had just slipped off her back.
"Do not try to escape," Marvel expressed in a booming mind wave, rattling Shai¡¯s thoughts. "I have it on good authority this time. Even Serenity won¡¯t be able to save you now."
Chapter 38 - The Chase
Marvel was a little overwhelmed with everything she had experienced in the last few minutes. After all, she was but two years old, and a fourth of that time had been spent in the nursery, and the rest under the safe protection of the Web School and their dwellings.
She did have occasional field practice where she faced other creatures, fought, and won over them. But they could not be compared to this abomination.
The sheer aura it possessed made her feel nauseated. Not even Serenity or Elegy¡¯s aura was that unsettling. Midnight¡¯s aura was more dangerous and thicker, but the Guardian was second best at controlling her aura, only surpassed by Solace. Elegy and Serenity had decades to catch up to her. While this creature¡¯s aura was more raw, and primal.
Marvel knew most of the unsettling feeling came from the creature¡¯s uncontrolled nature and everything that was wrong about it.
¡°Hey, kid, are you listening to me?¡± the greedy snake¡¯s voice interrupted her contemplation.
Marvel was about to reply but paused as they suddenly heard a horrifying screech reverberate out of the pits, echoing throughout the surroundings.
¡°About your mama,¡± the snake said again, ¡°I think it¡¯s about time you call her up.¡±
They ceased whatever they were doing and approached the edge of the pit to look. Marvel¡¯s blood grew cold, discovering the abomination scaling the wall, digging its claw into the rugged stone. Its pace was a lot slower than hers, but it wouldn¡¯t need more than a couple of minutes to climb the couple of hundred metres.
Marvel exchange a look with the snake. The fear in their eyes was identical and palpable. However, Marvel refused to be led by fear. She got a hold of herself, fortifying her mind of any unduly influences. She got moving, knowing they had to act quickly if they wanted to survive.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Marvel said, shooting a web to catch the snake. Wrapping the white snake to herself, Marvel didn¡¯t waste a single moment to flee.
The snake let out an exasperated hiss, but didn¡¯t complain as Marvel thought it to.
It¡¯s not an it, but a Her, Marvel corrected herself inwardly, her eight legs working in synchronisation to move in the direction she came from.
As they hurried away, Marvel refrained from sucking any emotional energy from the snake, fearing it would affect her mindset.
¡°Are you taking me to your mama?¡± the snake asked, resigned.
Marvel remained silent. There was no time for explanations. She needed to keep moving and find safety as quickly as possible. Of course, the reasoning was sound in her head, however, the truth differed a little.
Honestly, Marvel was embarrassed. That was why she didn¡¯t even try to clear the snake¡¯s misinterpretation of thinking Serenity was her Mother.
And no, she wasn¡¯t taking the snake to Serenity.
Marvel had sneaked out of her dwelling when everyone was busy doing their stuff. If she were to find Serenity at this time, she would get more than a mindful for her blunder. Serenity might even lock her up for weeks as punishment.
Marvel¡¯s mind raced with worry as she thought of options other than Serenity. Elegy was no go either, she would be harsher than Serenity, and might even try to revoke her chance of becoming a guardian. While Midnight was just scary.
That left a few of her teachers, and Solace. A couple of the teachers were at Iron rank, but they weren¡¯t well-versed in combat. They would have to pay a price to stop this creature from destroying their dwelling. On top of that, Marvel couldn¡¯t take this creature to them, they were in the inner part, taking care of her younger siblings.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
That only left Solace. Considering the blunder she made by leaving her dwelling without permission, Solace was the only option she had.
The horrifying screeches of the curse walker echoed from behind, reminding them of the impending danger they faced.
Then again, being locked up for weeks was still better than being devoured by the cursed creature. Marvel had no clue that such abhorred creatures dwelled in their home. Its twisted nature and aura were mind-consuming. She could understand why Serenity and others kept it from the children, though that didn¡¯t stop her from being pissed about it.
¡°It climbed off the pit already,¡± the snake reminded her.
Marvel focused on the eyes on her back to discover the snake was telling the truth. Although she felt it was weird for the snake to discover it first with its head hanging on her abdomen.
Marvel turned a couple of times to come into a wider and more spacious tunnel, where she could use her webs for faster movement.
She swung her way for a long distance, for like five minutes, covering over a couple of miles, yet she couldn¡¯t flee from the Iron-raked Wyrm. For some twisted reason, it didn¡¯t stop chasing even though it had a hard time following.
Her sense of urgency amplified as the presence of the Cursewalker seemed to draw closer with each passing moment.
The snake hissed in distress, circling her to latch its head on her back. ¡°Looks like it will eat us twice over before we reach your mama,¡± she said. ¡°Got any other ideas?¡±
The snake¡¯s distress mirrored Marvel¡¯s fear, even though she wasn¡¯t influenced by her.
¡°What are you talking about? Serenity isn¡¯t my Mother,¡± Marvel said indignantly. Although Serenity acted like one, in the absence of their Mother.
¡°That matters very little now.¡±
Marvel was busy dodging those black bolts that came her way to retort to the snake. Seriously, the reptile was becoming more skilful in shooting those over time. Although she managed to evade all of them so far, Marvel wasn¡¯t so sure about it now. Her body was growing wearier. she was reaching the point of exhaustion when she wouldn¡¯t be able to use her webs or essence power anymore. But before that, she needed to escape from the creature.
She considered, examining her surroundings. ¡°There is a training pit ahead,¡± she transferred to the snake, ¡°if we delay it enough, it might not be able to chase after us.¡±
The training ground offered a slim chance of escaping the creature, though she would have to be very swift in her work.
The white serpent hummed in uncertainty in her mind, clearly not satisfied with her plan, but that was the best she could offer at this moment.
¡°I guess we have no other option,¡± the serpent said. Her power seemed to have recovered a little over time, though Marvel could feel the snake¡¯s mind was exhausted beyond measure. The snake was a little Lvl 20 hatchling after all. ¡°Attack its mind again when it was about to pounce on us. I¡¯ll follow up with something.¡±
¡°Something? What?¡± Marvel refrained from asking more as the creature was on them. She swiftly shot a web and rode away, clinging to it, barely evading its pounce.
¡°Now!¡± the snake snarled in her mind.
There was no time for questions. Marvel pushed for her mental attack, fortifying her mind first. Easily, she found the unprotected mind of the iron-ranked creature. Marvel jabbed with a sharp spike of empathic attack.
The creature¡¯s agonised screech filled the air. It was not alone in announcing its agony, Marvel let out a squeal as well, as the wyrm¡¯s twisted nature, hunger, and corrosion engulfed her mind, shambling her fortification.
[Congratulations! Empathic Defence (E) has reached 100% mastery. + 6 to Mind.]
Great time, but Marvel had no time to gloat over her gain.
The wyrm hadn¡¯t retaliated on its own; the attack was borne from an instinctual mental construct. Even still, it was swift and brutal, nothing like before. Marvel found herself overwhelmed by the dark and corrupted aspects of its mind. Her mental fortification crumbled under its influence, leaving her vulnerable to the corrupting power.
In her panic to fortify her mind, Marvel hadn¡¯t noticed the snake freeing itself from the web. However, it didn¡¯t escape on its own, instead brought out something out of thin air and shot it in the direction of the momentarily frozen wyrm.
It was a small ball, which spread out when it crashed into the wyrm, turning into a confining web that arrested the serpentine creature completely.
¡°That¡¯s Solaces,¡± Marvel couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why do you have it?¡±
¡°It will break free soon,¡± the snake said again, shooting another one of those web balls, lashing its tail against it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
The wyrm lay on the ground, confined by the webs arresting its form as they finally rounded another turn to come across another pit. Well, not a pit, but more like a chasm.
The sight of the vast chasm before them was daunting. It went deeper than their eyes could follow. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t completely empty, as layers of intricate webs intertwined within the chasm to form some complex system. It was a puzzle. Even still, the intelligence and craftiness required to design this place were immense, but Marvel had no time to appreciate the intricate beauty.
If they could navigate through the chasm¡¯s intricate web system, they might find a way out. Thankfully, Marvel had solved the puzzle before.
Marvel leapt onto it without looking back. Shai clung to her body.
Chapter 39 - Web Formation
Serenity waited patiently in the darkness, perched high on the wall. Her senses had detected the trespassers long ago, and she, along with Midnight, was ready to ambush. They had meticulously planned the attack, considering all possible contingencies.
Despite this, Serenity couldn¡¯t shake off a hint of nervousness. An ambush was not something she had to do every day, especially against crafty iron rankers. Although she regularly fought against twisted creatures that were dull-minded despite their boundless ferocity, humans presented a distinct challenge. A difficult one.
The humans were now in one of their mushroom fields, harvesting their fare as if it were their birthright. Their greed was apparent, as they took whatever they wanted, scouring the place like corrupted creatures.
Serenity¡¯s frustration mounted as she witnessed their greed and disrespect for the formations. Their reckless actions infuriated her, yet she remained poised, waiting for Elegy to make the first move.
¡°I¡¯m starting,¡± Elegy¡¯s voice echoed in their mental link. It seemed her sister was equally impatient with the trespassers. Serenity edged closer, maintaining her [Stealth] mode. Midnight, too, was concealed nearby. Their telepathic connection allowed Serenity and Midnight to tune into Elegy¡¯s confrontation with the humans.
¡°Humans, you show no respect for other races,¡± Elegy announced, her voice stern, authoritative, and, above all, intimidating. ¡°You are not welcome here.¡±
¡°Who said that?!¡± a response came. It was from the monkey-faced man, who spoke aloud instead of using the mental link Elegy had established.
Their initial aim to intimidate was successful; all three human and beastmen, who were previously occupied with collecting the iron-ranked mushrooms, were now scanning their surroundings in panic, drawing on their essence. Serenity sensed their growing unease, a sprouting fear of the unseen voice.
Elegy must have felt it, as she intensified her mental pulses, edging close to an outright assault. ¡°We will give you one chance. Leave, relinquishing all you have taken from our land, and we will consider this conflict resolved.¡±
The men continued to search for them, ignoring Elegy¡¯s warning. However, one of them responded with a reply that took everyone by surprise.
¡°Kill them! Kill them all!¡± The words came from the slave, and though his voice was transmitted through the mental link Elegy had established, everyone could hear him. ¡°For what they have done, they deserve death.¡±
The slave¡¯s outburst displeased the monkey-faced man. He lashed out with a kick to the slave¡¯s back, causing him to splutter and fall to the ground.
¡°Should we?¡± Serenity asked Midnight through their mental link.
¡°No,¡± came the reply from her superior. ¡°Wait for my signal.¡±
The other man coughed. ¡°Forgive us for not showing proper respect,¡± he said aloud, as though trying to gauge Elegy¡¯s power. ¡°But whom are we speaking to? If you show yourself, we can resolve this amicably.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Elegy responded, her mental transmissions becoming monotone and rigid. ¡°You have five minutes to leave our land. This is non-negotiable.¡±
The man exchanged a glance with the monkey-faced one, who simply shrugged, deferring to him.
¡°As I said, forgive our disrespect,¡± the man continued politely, ¡°but now it is you who are being unreasonable. You cannot simply demand that we leave without providing a proper explanation of what this place is and who we are dealing with.¡±
¡°An explanation?¡± Elegy¡¯s mental tone took on a mocking edge. ¡°No, you don¡¯t seek understanding. You wish to assess whether you could defeat us. Is that not so?¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The man¡¯s brows furrowed, and he gripped his weapon tighter, scanning the surroundings with alert eyes.
¡°You¡¯re looking in the wrong place. I¡¯m not lurking in the shadows,¡± Elegy taunted. ¡°I¡¯m inside your head.¡±
With that, Elegy unleashed her full empathic power, piercing through their mental defences effortlessly. The three trespassers crumpled to the ground, caught off guard by the sudden assault. The slave suffered the most, followed by the monkey-faced man, and finally, the one who had done most of the talking.
Elegy could have launched a direct attack from the outset, but such an approach wouldn¡¯t have yielded such profound results. While the humans were preoccupied with locating her, she had meticulously analyzed their mental defences, identifying every flaw and vulnerability, enough to paralyze them swiftly.
¡°Now!¡± Midnight¡¯s voice rang out, and total darkness enveloped the area. It was an absolute void of light, a depth of darkness impenetrable even by [Night Vision]. Midnight had made her move.
Serenity sprang into action as well.
***
***
Marvel seemed to have tapped into a focused state of mind as she deftly manoeuvred herself through the complex network of countless intertwined webs. Shai latched herself to the spider, contemplating whether she should now part ways. The wyrm wouldn¡¯t be confined for long.
Shai had recovered a fraction of her power, sneakily opening her inventory to devour a couple of mushrooms. Marvel was occupied with her movement to notice. The contaminated blood restricted her aspect, [Essence Eater]. It was likely busy purging all the foulness. There was no chance she could fend off the attacks of the Iron-ranked abomination in her current state. She didn¡¯t stand a chance alone.
It seems I¡¯ll be biding my time and waiting for an opportunity to flee, she thought, noticing the disgustingly powerful aura on their rear rising again.
¡°It¡¯s freed itself,¡± Shai informed the fledgling spider, who responded with an exasperated squeak.
Marvel swung by a thick strand of web, halting their movement, leaving them suspended upside down along the web with a clear view towards the opening of the chasm. Despite the hundreds of intertwined webs and the enveloping darkness making clear vision nearly impossible, they were nonetheless capable of sensing any approaching disturbance.
¡°I thought we planned to flee,¡± Shai inquired. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running?¡±
The wyrm¡¯s terrifying screech echoed as it tumbled down the webs. Although the cobwebs appeared old, a few layers of the intertwined complex were enough to momentarily deter the beast.
Unlike Marvel, who was familiar with the chasm, the wyrm plunged into it recklessly, driven by the singular desire to devour them, devoid of any rational thought. Regrettably, it couldn¡¯t descend more than a dozen metres; its colossal body was ensnared within the webs. Yet, the wyrm was relentless; it fired acidic black bolts, dissolving the webs to free itself, only to become entangled once more, descending another dozen metres.
The acidic nature of the black bolts weakened the webs repeatedly, aiding the wyrm¡¯s release. This cycle persisted for a while, as Marvel and Shai observed from a safer distance below.
Eventually, the abomination seemed to find their presence, expressing its frustration with a paralysing screech, its maw bristling with jagged teeth.
Shai¡¯s unease intensified. She needed to refocus her mind to avoid being overwhelmed by the monster¡¯s screeches. ¡°So, what are we waiting for again?¡±
¡°This,¡± Marvel replied as she launched her web. It wasn¡¯t the usual continuous strand she used for swinging, but appeared to be a sharp projectile that severed one of the strings of the perpetual web formation.
The severance of this string caused another web to loosen, and in the next moment, a sizable block of stone crashed into the creature.
Shai¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she exchanged a look with the spider, who conveyed a wave of satisfaction through their link.
Marvel cut another one of the strings, as another block of stone smashed into the creature, its screeches reverberating throughout the chasm. Definitely not happy with how they were treating a creature of its station.
A confining net of webs came on Marvel¡¯s next act, capturing the creature.
¡°The only drawback of these traps is that they weren¡¯t made to kill,¡± Marvel told her. ¡°It was a training system created to train the next generation Guardian, not to slaughter them.¡±
¡°Makes sense,¡± Shai agreed. She turned her head to look downwards into the depths of the chasm, the darkness and the intertwined webs making it harder to glimpse past a hundred metres. ¡°How deep is this chasm again?¡±
¡°A couple of miles. Why?¡± Marvel hadn¡¯t stopped shooting her web bolts throughout the conversation, as blocks of stone rammed into the creature before it could break free.
¡°And it is full of traps like these all the way?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Marvel said, ¡°though they vary in distance and danger. The farthest distance between traps is about three metres.¡±
¡°Great,¡± Shai chimed. ¡°Hey, Little Marvel, don¡¯t you think it is a great loss to leave this abomination to do as it pleases?¡±
Chapter 40 - Reptile-Arachnid Alliance
¡°Are you suggesting we use the traps to kill it?¡± Marvel was quick to pick on the hints. ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. Even I, a Low Copper, can escape the pit without any critical injuries, but this one is an Iron rank.¡±
¡°A misshapen Iron rank,¡± Shai corrected her, unsure how much her understanding was correct. ¡°And you¡¯re agile, trained to act under these circumstances, while eating is the only way this vile creature knows. It can¡¯t even avoid the traps if we leave it be.¡±
¡°The traps can¡¯t kill it.¡± Marvel seemed absolutely sure of it. She moved down after no more traps remained intact on that level.
¡°Sure, maybe,¡± Shai said, ¡°but it might as well weaken it enough for us to deal with it.¡±
Marvel remained silent. Her empathic pulses were a jumble of mess, almost bothering Shai.
¡°Oh crap, I¡¯m going to get punished for destroying the training chasm,¡± Marvel squeaked as realisation finally dawned on her. ¡°Even though this vile creature did most of it.¡±
¡°That is life,¡± Shai told the young spider. ¡°So what do you think about what I said? It is going to destroy the web system no matter what. Why not make it pay for doing so?¡±
¡°But then we won¡¯t be able to flee and inform Solace.¡±
She had a point there, Shai thought.
¡°Also, I¡¯m getting exhausted, I don¡¯t think I can fight at this rate.¡±
¡°The Training Chasm can buy us time to recover,¡± Shai said, deliberating,
For an extended amount of time, they hung in silence. Only the screech of the abomination broke the silence between them.
¡°Still not convinced?¡± Shai asked.
¡°You¡¯re very greedy,¡± the spider said. Before Shai could refute out, the eight-legged creature added, ¡°I¡¯m in with your plan, but first, you have to give me some of those mushrooms. You have stolen them from us, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Shai froze. Of course, spiders had an omnidirectional view. She deliberated over her options and gave in. The little spider had already seen the mushrooms, dragging her into the crime seemed to be only option left to save her skin.
¡°Umm, sure,¡± Shai agreed, bringing out most of the leftovers from her inventory.
¡°This Concept of Space, right?¡± Marvel asked, her eyes narrowing on the dark hole where the mushrooms fell from. ¡°How can a creature like you comprehend such profound principles?¡±
She sounded somewhat envious in Shai¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯m special like that.¡±
The growing screeches of the abomination reminded them of the desperation of the situation.
¡°We need to move. Help me eat them.¡± With that, Marvel was swinging again.
Shai slithered across the spider¡¯s body. She clutched one mushroom with her mouth and moved towards the spider¡¯s mandibles. Shai held the mushroom into Marvel¡¯s mandibles as the spider ate. She repeated the process, shoving one after another into the mandibles.
Huh, with all the twisted stuff I had to deal with, this kind of looks like a kiss, Shai thought, not feeling all that repulsive. Considering how her stomach used to churn eating raw flesh in the beginning days, this was nothing. She wasn¡¯t sure what to think of it, not that it made her feel anything.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Thankfully, the spider seemed to be oblivious to human affairs. Good for both of us.
The feeding came to an end shortly. After locating the next level where the traps were installed, Marvel stopped again, sticking herself to the wall this time.
¡°This is going to be fun,¡± the spider said, looking at the creature dozens of times her weight.
¡°Yeah,¡± agreed the snake, her predatory eyes locked onto the serpentine abomination, which was easily hundreds of times bigger than her.
***
***
The slave was the first to fall. The poor human couldn¡¯t even bear Elegy¡¯s assault on his mind when she was simultaneously handling two other humans far stronger than him in comparison.
Unfortunately, the other two turned out to be a little tricky. As Serenity thought, the two men didn¡¯t care about their slave all that much. When the younger man fell, they were busy getting the hell out of their sight. Of course, she couldn¡¯t blame them with their senses impaired, and a Herald of Death looming over them.
Nobody could tell from which direction Midnight would attack them. Even Serenity couldn¡¯t, she could hardly guess with their mental link intact. That was how elusive her superior was in a fight.
Serenity wrapped the fallen slave completely with her webs into a cocoon, reinforcing with the power of Adhesion. She didn¡¯t kill the human. Not yet. His corpse would have done well to work as a fertiliser for the Bloodcudding Mushrooms, but Serenity showed him mercy only thinking far off. She adhered the cocoon to the wall and joined the fray again.
Looking at the battle, her choice was right.
Using the element of surprise and her superior agility, Midnight had cut off an arm of the rat-faced man, almost crippling him. He writhed on the ground, rolling around, blood spraying everywhere. Unfortunately, the rat-faced man turned out to be a deadly Poison Cultivator. When his life was at stake, he didn¡¯t hold back assaulting with all his mind.
A poisonous miasma enveloped where Midnight operated.
¡°Seal your breathing!¡± Midnight¡¯s mental wave told her. ¡°Clock yourself. There are more than two forms of poison in the miasma. Two are deadly, the third is more faint but more insidious. It¡¯s high restrictive type.¡±
Serenity was about to ask how Midnight was able to discern the miasma¡¯s properties so quickly, but a realisation dawned over her shortly. Even if Midnight was a Poison master, she shouldn¡¯t be able to discern that all in mere seconds. ¡°Midnight, are you?¡±
¡°Yes, I¡¯m contaminated,¡± Midnight said, her tone still resolute. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. What is poison to the Midnight, if not nourishments?¡±
Serenity wanted to believe. Well, she almost believed her, but then she found Midnight locked in battle with the other man, who now hovered in the air, dark majestic wings spread across his back. Unaffected by the poison, he could flee on his own if he desired.
¡°Join Elegy in the mental assault,¡± Midnight ordered. ¡°We cannot let them escape.¡±
***
After they reached the halfway point of the training chasm, the hurdle to move forward became even more apparent, with traps far harder to evade and deadlier in threat. Of course, Marvel had all the nook and corner of the chasm memorised, making their entry safer. But it wasn¡¯t safe.
The Training Chasm wasn¡¯t merely to train the body and reflexes, it seemed, the empathic spider clan pays great importance to the Mind equally, if not more. Along with exercising the mobility and cosmic arts of a candidate, this chasm challenged their mind as well.
There were hundreds upon hundreds of intricate contingencies. The complex combinations of traps were impossible to avoid, even with a regular candidate as a companion. Shai would know, as they had set off more than just a couple of traps so far.
Still better than the Wyrm. It moved like a wrecking ball, albeit at a slower pace, frequently stopping to free itself from the web entanglement. Regardless, their job became easier.
With the growing difficulty, they wouldn¡¯t have to make sure the wyrm fell into the traps, as it was almost impossible for a creature of that volume and mass to not fall into them. Marvel didn¡¯t have to trigger them anymore. The wyrm was paying for its stupidity, for following its instinct.
That left them mostly free to recover their energy. The wyrm was coming down slowly, in the slow cycle of getting itself tangled in the webs and breaking free. Of course, it was getting smashed with blocks of stones or jagged stone projectiles in between, screaming in all its indignation and grievances, much to their delight.
The repetitive cycles had gone for over an hour by this point. The abomination had no other option but to continue downwards, it found itself deep into the rabbit hole, and the only option remaining was to reach the bottom of it.
Hopefully, the young spider and the hatchling would claim its life by that point.
Bruises began to appear on its body already, though it was far from being battered, save for the holes Shai left in its body before it advanced. Its mental stability was non-existence, but Marvel was still hesitant about striking its mind, considering the torment she was put through the last time.
It wasn¡¯t merely the instinctual mechanism, but something darker, more sinister, that gnawed at Marvel¡¯s mind. As if a construct built only to resist her empathic power.
Chapter 41 - The Last Stretch
¡°We¡¯ll begin soon,¡° Shai told the spider, bracing herself. Shai would have liked to eat something further to recover more, as Marvel left her alone to meditate after their alliance was formed. Unfortunately, her instinct screamed against it. It wasn¡¯t a viable option when [Essene Eater] was preoccupied with the awful stuff she had swallowed.
Moreover, she was supposed to continue on the same path to attack again, ingesting the sinister contaminated substance. Of course, she planned on expelling those disgusting things this time around.
¡°Fear won¡¯t confine my mind,¡° Shai muttered inwardly, ¡°¡®Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it. Let me not look for allies in life¡¯s battlefield, but to my own strength. . .¡¯ ¡°
¡°What was that?¡° Marvel asked, hearing her even though Shai didn¡¯t intend for her to.
¡°Nothing,¡° Shai answered, focusing her mind.
¡°It didn¡¯t sound like nothing.¡°
¡°It¡¯s a quote,¡° Shai said, ¡°a part of it.¡°
Marvel gave her a long look.
¡°You don¡¯t know what a poem is?¡°
¡°Oh, I know what a poem is,¡° Marvel said, still giving her the odd look. With her glowing red eyes, it was hard to discern. ¡°But I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d know.¡°
Shai turned her head slowly to meet the monster. It had finally managed to break free from the web entanglement. Not for long, though.
The wyrm descended another dozen metres, becoming entangled in the intricate layers of the web. Several hidden traps were triggered in its wake, as blocks of stone rammed into its head and back simultaneously, until another web construct enveloped it completely, halting its progress.
Marvel and Shai exchanged a look, communicating with their eyes. It was time.
They had discussed their plans, so Shai didn¡¯t panic when Marvel glued her web to her tail and spun her in the direction of the suspended wyrm.
Shai¡¯s eyes narrowed and focused completely on the serpentine enemy as her slender body whispered through the air, through the gaps of the web intricacies, to plunge into the creature.
Shai hadn¡¯t made her attack yet when the wyrm squirmed, writhing inside the web confines, screeching. Marvel played her part, attacking its mind, even though the mental contamination irked her.
Shai launched an [Arcane Shot] to make a hole in its confines and slid inside, the web still clinging to her tail. She got to work, slithering across its huge, wriggling body to find the hole she created and dug into it.
Making every unit of essence count, Shai dug her head a couple of feet into the writhing creature¡¯s body and began to suck out its blood. With complex control of [Essence Eater], Shai merely used its suction force, not the synthesising.
Gallons of dark, disgusting blood poured into her mouth as she persisted until she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Her narrow form bloated instantly, reaching the limit. She couldn¡¯t continue sucking the blood without compressing them through the synthesising process. Shai didn¡¯t want to tempt fate by doing so.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Opportunities to inflict damage on the wyrm were easy, no need to force her chances. It was merely the first attempt, countless more remaining until they reached the bottom of the chasm. The fight would be long, no need to be impatient.
¡°Pull me back!¡° Shai screamed into her mind, wiggling her body to come out of the wyrm¡¯s twisted flesh.
Marvel heard that with the link remaining intact. Without pausing her mental assault, she yanked the web still glued to Shai¡¯s tail, aiding the serpent¡¯s escape.
Thankfully, the wyrm almost freed itself from the net, leaving no obstruction in Shai¡¯s path. It couldn¡¯t even sense Shai disappearing to attack. As her body was yanked downwards, Shai left everything to the spider and contorted her form to force out all the disgusting blood from her system.
It was almost incomprehensible that she had sucked so much blood with her narrow form; it fell downwards in a spray of rain, staining the cobweb, lost in the darkness.
¡°Are you alright?¡° Marvel asked, sticking Shai to herself.
Shai shrilled fiercely a few times as if to make sure she expelled all the disgusting blood.
¡°Almost fine,¡° Shai answered finally, keeping her disgust out of her voice, though Marvel could feel it. ¡°How about you?¡°
¡°Not prime, but I can continue for long like this till my mind collapses.¡°
¡°How many times do you presume that is?¡°
Marvel sent a thoughtful wave. Shai was getting pretty confident in discerning them. ¡°A couple dozen times at the very least.¡°
¡°Let¡¯s make all of them count.¡°
Hopefully, by then I¡¯ll be able to finish it, Shai thought, eyeing the Wyrm. The wound she inflicted was minuscule compared to its massive form, but in most cases, dozens of minuscule wounds were enough to take down even a titan, much less this misshapen abomination. It was never perfect, to begin with, and their assault left it even more incomplete.
The problem was its defence. This abomination had inherited some twisted form of the same passive defence. Of course, Shai managed to leave it vulnerable in some places, but none of them was in any critical spot like its head or heart.
¡°Give it some time,¡° Marvel said. ¡°After it runs out of energy, nothing can save it from us.¡°
Shai agreed. Sadly, it seemed an Iron-ranked creature had a tremendous pool of essence. The way it wasted precious essence, Shai could have killed it twice over.
¡°An Iron-ranked creature can easily have three to four times more energy than a copper ranker,¡° Marvel informed. ¡°The difference grows even larger depending on the path and law comprehension. While I doubt this creature comprehends even the dullest concept, I can guess it has close to ten thousand points of essence reserves. The evil power that twisted it filled its empty husk full of contaminated essence.¡°
Shai sucked in a deep breath. That was already over twenty times her energy reserves. The sheer disparity between their stats stunned her. Thankfully, the wyrm was inept at utilising the energy, or they would be in its stomach.
Unsurprisingly, the wyrm entangled itself in the webs, astonishing them yet again.
A huge block of stone smashed into the wyrm, suspended in the air, eliciting its most indignant scream, as the white snake escaped under its watch, powerless to retaliate. Its state deteriorated enough to lose its iron-rank aura.
¡°You said the traps are not life-threatening,¡° Shai accused Marvel as the spider helped her latch onto a safe web to rest.
¡°They aren¡¯t,¡° Marvel said, sounding a little less certain, ¡°if you¡¯re careful.¡°
Shai let out an exasperated hiss. She wasn¡¯t complaining as the blocks of stone had significantly damaged the wyrm, battering its body, nearly reverting it to its state before advancement. Additionally, Shai had riddled its body with holes, dark blood oozing out even after she had departed.
Shai felt sick as well, despite her best efforts to expel all the filthy blood from her system. Considering she had done this over a couple of dozen times now, excluding the period before the wyrm advanced, there were ample reasons for her discomfort.
Sadly, it wasn¡¯t time to rest yet. The wyrm was already showing signs of weakness, unable to form the black bolts to attack, taking longer to extricate itself from the web entanglements.
They were on the final stretch now.
¡°Only about a couple of hundred metres remain to reach the bottom,¡° Marvel added. ¡°Do not move around on your own. The last few traps were more than a little tricky, though I suppose you¡¯ll be fine with your narrow form. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t say the same for the other serpentine creature though.¡°
Shai could sense the relief emanating from the spider as she spoke. Shai too felt relieved, though she knew she would have to continue with her task a few more times.
¡°Come on, I¡¯ll help you out from now on,¡° Marvel said as she propelled Shai towards the wyrm again, before joining her.
Chapter 42 - Unexpected Turns of Event
Marvel was incapable of sucking blood like the snake, however, she did manage to pin her sharp legs into the battered abomination, roaming around over its massive body to tear off its flesh. Meanwhile, Shai dug into another hole after vomiting out all the blood she had absorbed from the previous one. Since the wyrm couldn¡¯t attack them anymore, there was no need for them to fear it.
The only thing they needed to worry about was the stones crashing into them. The blinding light construct couldn¡¯t hurt them badly, other than catching them off guard for a time. Then there was the web construct that could capture them along with the wyrm¡ªthis too posed little trouble. Nothing they couldn¡¯t handle.
The wyrm could only scream, though its intensity had waned considerably since it had been voicing its grievances for almost two hours now. Together, they made a mockery of its station of iron rank.
¡°A jagged stone will come hurtling in two seconds,¡° Marvel alerted in time as she jumped off the creature, yanking back the web attached to Shai.
Shai aided her escape, launching an [Arcane Shot] at the monstrous beast as her body hurled downwards faster. A huge jagged stone projectile came as Marvel predicted, missing both of them by a safe distance, only to ram into the midsection of the wyrm, digging into its body. After their work on the abomination, it was unable to sustain its inherited defence of iron rank.
It screeched once again in a horrifying scream after a long silence. But the scream had no paralysing effect, merely a manifestation of its agony.
¡°That¡¯s got to hurt a lot,¡° Shai observed.
¡°You have no idea,¡° Marvel communicated. ¡°If I were in a better mental state, I could let you feel a tiny part of it.¡°
¡°No, thank you.¡°
Shai was torn between delight and sorrow. Even if it was an abomination that only wanted to fill its stomach with their flesh, Shai couldn¡¯t help but feel what they were doing was wrong. No, she didn¡¯t have any qualms about killing it. Ending the life of a perverse, misshapen creature like this was a service to the Skysea¡ªwhatever that was. But Shai felt the manner of its demise was unjust. It deserved a swifter end. Making it suffer so extensively was unnecessary.
But this was the only way for them to deal with it. Shai resolved to pray for it to have a better next life after she was done with the deed. She wasn¡¯t particularly religious, but considering her own rebirth, it seemed fitting to hold some beliefs.
¡°A couple more of those jagged stones and our task would be completed already,¡° Marvel said, peering downwards. ¡°I guess the crash will do it.¡°
¡°What crash?¡° Shai asked. But Marvel only answered by swinging from one wall to the other, clutching Shai with another web. The strands of web thinned out rapidly as they descended. Shai was about to look downwards, but her danger senses screamed, prompting her to turn and face a huge chunk of stone hurtling in their direction out of nowhere.
Instinctively, Shai closed her eyes, channelling energy to empower herself. However, she need not have worried, as Marvel was prepared for it. The copper-ranked arachnid swung just above the stone that moved like a pendulum, with thick webs stuck to it, and manoeuvred her form to land on top of the stone. She didn¡¯t move from there and waited for the wyrm to fall into the depths of the chasm.
The thinning webs couldn¡¯t support the burden of the wyrm¡¯s immense body as it came crashing down. It missed their block of stone, which continued to swing like a pendulum, but it couldn¡¯t avoid the rest of the traps at the bottommost level of the training chasm. Blinding light, jagged stones, web construct, and smaller projectiles containing numbing poison hurtled towards the free-falling wyrm. It was completely incapable of evading those traps, as well as the crash.
¡°It¡¯s as good as dead,¡° Marvel declared. Her empathic waves conveyed relieved delight.
Shai finally looked downwards as the creature fell, creating a tremor upon its impact. They waited a couple more seconds, but the congratulatory words from the System Grandpa never came.
¡°Looks like we still need to play the last part,¡° Shai observed as the empathic spider let them down slowly with a single continuous web emanating from its spinneret. No traps or other constructs assaulted them, as the wyrm had already cleared the way.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
The wyrm lay in the uneven depths of the chasm, its body mangled and bloodied, with multiple jagged stones protruding. It wailed in its death throes, a far cry from the horrifying screams it once emitted. Even if they left it to fate, the wyrm wouldn¡¯t last long.
¡°So,¡° Shai inquired, ¡°who¡¯s going to do the honours?¡°
Marvel looked at her. ¡°How about we do it together?¡°
That seemed like the best option, considering both of them had worked hard to bring down this abomination.
¡°Are you sure?¡± Yet she couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Considering the one who dealt the last blow will probably get the lion¡¯s share of the benefit?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not as greedy as you,¡± the spider added triumphantly.
¡°All I do is for my survival,¡± hissed the serpent.
Marvel leapt up with Shai to reach the top of the wyrm. They moved over its battered head and exchanged a knowing glance. They readied one last move, taking their time, the wyrm incapable of stopping what was coming for it.
Unfortunately, both had to halt their attack, as they sensed something was amiss in the atmosphere. Something ominous was growing.
¡°Something¡¯s coming,¡° Shai called. three dangerous auras drew closer their way at a tremendous pace.
¡°What do we do?!¡° Marvel transmitted, panicking again.
¡°Hide,¡° Shai suggested, sliding off from the wyrm to hide in its shadow, almost coiling under its form. Marvel followed suit, similarly taking refuge in the huge shadow of the wyrm, though her form was more conspicuous than that of the snake. With the little time they had, this was the best they could do.
Soon, they spotted a figure flying through the tunnel, coming from the one direction the chasm led. A pair of wide dark wings spread behind him as he flew at a tremendous pace, carrying an armless figure.
It was those men, Shai thought as the flying birdman didn¡¯t even bother to give the dying wyrm a second glance, much less search for them.
He flew upwards out of the training chasm. The blight chasing after him was dangerous enough for him to abandon all notion of anything else but fleeing.
But what could cause him to be so frightened? Shai didn¡¯t have to wait long for the answer, as a darkening aura enveloped them, impairing her sight instantly. It came like a bale wind, darkness taking form in its wake, chasing after the men upwards.
Shai¡¯s blood ran cold, even though she couldn¡¯t see its form. If the wyrm was an abomination¡ªan evil taken form¡ªthen the darkness was another grade higher in danger.
¡°What in Jesus¡¯s name was that?¡° Shai couldn¡¯t help but ask. Even though she wasn¡¯t looking for an answer, she got one.
¡°That¡¯s...¡° Marvel transmitted, a little shaken, ¡°That¡¯s Midnight!¡°
Both of them still had their eyes upward, even though those figures had vanished from their sight a moment ago. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t out of danger yet, as soon another figure appeared and stopped right in front of them.
It was an eight-legged creature¡ªmuch like Marvel, though double her size¡ªone that both of them recognized, causing them to exchange a glance, now in fear. It was none other than the spider matriarch, Serenity, who, unlike the others, stopped and found them in their hiding spot.
¡°Marvel, what are you doing here?!¡° Serenity called out, her mental wave booming in their heads. ¡°Have you lost your mind? And you, little greedy snake, what did I tell you last time?!¡°
They swallowed their fear together, and without waiting for even a breath, they started blaming each other, all the camaraderie they formed in the last couple of hours lost in the wake of the spider matriarch. She, in a way, was more frightening than the abomination.
They spat blame at one another so fast and simultaneously that even Serenity had trouble understanding, given the distress she was in.
¡°Both of you stop!¡° Somehow, she managed to mute both of their mental communications as another spider similar to Serenity dropped next to her. It, or rather she, gave the dying creature a look, then at Marvel to Shai, and finally rested upon Serenity.
¡°I concur,¡° she said, ¡°you have every right to be worried for this little weaver.¡°
Serenity let out an exasperated squeak. ¡°Go after Midnight. I will take care of them.¡°
The other spider cast an ominous glance in their direction once more and swung up on the devastated training ground.
¡°Serenity, it¡¯s really not my fault,¡° Marvel said, sliding past Serenity¡¯s restriction on communication.
The spider matriarch said nothing. She hunched her head and stared at the dying creature in the eye. An intangible empathic pressure flooded out of her and assaulted the wyrm.
¡°Serenity, don¡¯t,¡° Marvel protested, but it was already too late, ¡°my quest¡ª¡°
Before she could finish, Serenity ended the abomination.
[Congratulations! You have defeated a Wyrm - Cursewalker (Abomination) Lvl 56.]
[You have achieved two small breakthroughs. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 22. +2 to all Primary Attributes, +2 Unallocated Point.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the emergency quest. You¡¯re eligible for the quest: Defier.]
[...]
¡°Oh, I still get the reward?¡° Marvel exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. ¡°Woohoo! I levelled up. Serenity, I¡ª¡°
¡°Not a single word out of your mouth.¡° Serenity hushed her again and wrapped her with webs into a cocoon. Even Shai wasn¡¯t spared from her assault.
She tried to escape with all the power remaining, but alas! The struggle with the wyrm had rendered her body exhausted, her mind incapable of forming even the simplest skill.
In the end, she fell into a deep sleep under the duress of something spiritual and descended right into the grasp of the spider mama.
Chapter 43 - Vow
[Congratulations! Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) has reached 100% of mastery. +8 to Mind, Physique, Soul.]
[Will you like to Evolve the skill Mental Corrosion Resistance (D)? A D-rank skill usually costs 8 Evolution points.]
[Accept | Decline]
Grandpa¡¯s voice awakened Shai as her inside whirled in an unsettling sensation, as if she had eaten something wrong. The confinement of the webs, accompanied by the creepy chilliness, made it even worse. She wiggled her narrow form the moment she regained consciousness, struggling to break free.
She was unsure of how long she had been in the confinement, but the time left her cold and unsettled. Shai had to bite the webs for a few minutes, infusing cosmic energy and even channelling the [Concept of Hunger] to create a small hole. Once the little gap appeared, it wasn¡¯t hard to free herself.
Since she didn¡¯t have enough evolution points, she dismissed the idea of evolving the skill for now. But damn, the boost in attributes was nice. 24 whole points¡
Shai wrung her body out through the hole to find she was hanging from a high wall in some unknown chasm. There weren¡¯t nearly as many interwoven webs in this one like the Training Chasm; however, this one gave a deep foreboding feeling of unease, as if her very being was in danger. It came from the depths of the pit, a cold chilly sensation that prickled at her very core.
Her eyes only led to deep murky darkness as she looked down into the depths. Instinctively, she curled her tail around the web and looked up.
The first thing she saw was a human¡ªa familiar face¡ªwho was confined in another cocoon like she had been, though his head was free. It was the young captive she had seen in the jungle and later with the two men. His face was ashen cold, leaden. Although his eyes were open, Shai wasn¡¯t sure if he was seeing anything. Poor fellow, he barely freed himself from those men to land in the webs of the spiders.
Such a twisted fate. Shai¡¯s situation had been a lot better than his, yet here they were at the mercy of those spiders. Shai tried [Golden Eyes] on the youth, only to find out he was a Lvl 42 copper ranker, and nothing else in particular, his path hidden with question marks. He was alive, though shaken to the core.
I wonder why the spider didn¡¯t just finish us if they left us here to die, Shai wondered as her mind whirled back to remember the whole event. Hmm, Marvel.
It didn¡¯t take long for her to find another cocoon on the other side of the pit, wrapping the spider inside fully. Still, it couldn¡¯t restrict the young spider completely, as soon Shai had the unsettling feeling of a telepathic link knocking on her mind.
The rest barely recovered her mental faculty. Shai was far from handling any heavy tasks save for meditation, yet she answered the communication. It was little trouble, anyway.
¡°Good job, Shai,¡± said the spider, ¡°you got out. Now help me get out.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t wanna.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Marvel sounded hurtful.
¡°You said bad things about me,¡± Shai said.
¡°What! When?!¡±
¡°When the spider mama captured us.¡±
¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± Marvel paused. ¡°It¡¯s all the truth, though.¡±
¡°So it was all my fault? I¡¯m just a greedy reptile, who wants to grow levels, huh,¡± Shai said, her eyes darting everywhere to find a way out. Unfortunately, there were no holes for her to crawl into and hide. ¡°You hurt my fragile heart.¡±
¡°Well, not all your fault,¡± Marvel tried to pacify the situation. ¡°I mean most of it was that dumb lizard¡¯s fault. You¡¯re not dumb though.¡±
Ah, it¡¯s so easy to manipulate a kid¡
¡°Yup, that¡¯s not working,¡± Shai sighed, curling along the webs to move forward. She tried to scale the wall, only to find it smooth as polished marble, with some odd currents running through them. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t all smooth everywhere, as time and other creatures had left their marks on the smooth surface. The wall didn¡¯t dispel her movement, but within a moment of contact, Shai felt something eerie. Something odd and chaotic that disoriented her.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
¡°Come on, Shai, you can¡¯t leave me here,¡± Marvel expressed. ¡°Serenity will eat me alive.¡±
Shai stopped her inspection. ¡°What, really?¡±
¡°Figuratively, we¡¯re not a fan of cannibalism.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯re good.¡±
¡°NOOO!¡± Marvel whined. ¡°No, please! You cannot leave me!¡±
¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I can,¡± Shai laughed, moving to check another direction, which led further away from Marvel.
The fledgling spider seemed to sense her departure somehow, as she whined with more pressure in her empathic wave. Shai put her words no mind, manoeuvring her narrow form to climb upwards.
¡°Wait, you cannot leave,¡± Marvel said. ¡°I mean, you cannot leave safely from here. This place is ridden with deadly essences and traps.¡±
That gave Shai a pause. She couldn¡¯t discern any falsehood in the young Marvel¡¯s tone, only eagerness. Although she should be capable of hiding her emotion in the telepathic link, Shai hardly believed the young spider was astute enough to think of that. Shai didn¡¯t think long to entertain Marvel¡¯s conjecture.
¡°You think I¡¯ll believe your spider mama will leave you in a deadly pit?¡± Shai hissed in contempt. They were empathic spiders, not apathetic¡ªthat was something Shai noticed long ago.
¡°Of course. You don¡¯t know us. Rules are everything to my elder siblings. Nobody escapes them,¡± Marvel said, her empathic pulses waning. ¡°It isn¡¯t the first time I have broken the rules. From what I¡¯m sensing, this place is likely the Hell Chasm.¡±
¡°Hell Chasm?¡±
¡°The place we are in right now,¡± Marvel said. ¡°You cannot imagine how dangerous this place is. Many of my predecessors died in this pit.¡±
Shai said nothing for a while as an awkward silence settled between them, though she could feel the spider gnawing at the back of her mind. Marvel was more unsettled than she let on.
Since she woke up, Shai had felt an awfully unsettling presence coming from the depths of the pit. Was that the reason behind Marvel¡¯s demure behaviour? She was spontaneous like a child before, but now depending on her.
¡°What is in the depth of the pit?¡± she asked.
¡°Hell!¡±
¡°And?¡± Shai pressed, as the word simply didn¡¯t describe enough.
¡°Nobody knows,¡± Marvel said ominously. ¡°Whoever is sent to the Hell Chasm tries to climb their way to forgiveness. Whoever went down doesn¡¯t come back, no matter their level and cultivation.¡±
¡°Then how do you know it was hell down there?¡± Shai questioned. ¡°If nobody comes back.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand. Eight generations ago, dozens of our predecessors went on an expedition there, led by four Gold Rankers. None of them returned. It left our clan crippled. We still haven¡¯t managed to overcome.¡±
¡°Still, that didn¡¯t tell anything,¡± Shai said with an exasperated sigh. ¡°For all you know, it could be paradise compared to this place you call home. What if they just didn¡¯t bother to come back?¡±
¡°What are you saying? That¡¯s outrageous! Impossible!¡± Marvel didn¡¯t even entertain her conjecture. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel the wrongness oozing from there?¡±
Shai could. It was somewhat similar to the corruption, yet entirely of a different calibre. Not the deranged feast. Her instinct told her she wouldn¡¯t survive if she went there. But there was something else too. Similar to the corruption, there was a promise of power.
¡°Well, you got a point,¡± Shai dropped the topic, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t explain why I should trust you. You¡¯re a rat, Marvel. Why would I jeopardise my safety trusting you again?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a rat!¡± Marvel expressed strongly, not comprehending. ¡°I¡¯m an Empathic Spider, A Named one at that. Our bloodline is at the very top of the system.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Shai snorted in the link. ¡°You rat me out, Marvel, to your Mama.¡±
¡°Rrrrrr!¡± Marvel croaked, finally understanding. ¡°That¡¯s not a fair comparison, you know. Rats are stupid; how could they betray you when they don¡¯t understand anything?¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯re right,¡± Shai agreed. ¡°I guess humans are a good comparison.¡±
While the figure of speech could be applied to snakes, Shai didn¡¯t voice it out.
¡°Humans?¡± Marvel wiggled inside her cocoon a little, still struggling. ¡°I have never seen one before today, but I sensed unbearable contempt for them from my elders¡ But that¡¯s beside the point. Please free me, and we will climb out of this chasm like how we defeated the deformed wyrm together.¡±
¡°And then you¡¯ll betray me to your mama?¡±
¡°I told you, Serenity isn¡¯t my mama,¡± Marvel cried. ¡°We are all born from the same origin, the Great Mother.¡±
Shai thought for a second, finally getting a solution for her trouble. ¡°Then take a vow on your mother''s name, that you won¡¯t betray me.¡±
Marvel became silent. Shai reeled her head to look at her cocoon before creeping away.
¡°Wait! Wait! Wait! I¡¯ll take the vow,¡± Marvel screamed, her distress evident through the empathic pulses. ¡°Just don¡¯t leave me here.¡±
Shai sighed in relief inwardly. If she could manipulate this little spider, perhaps Shai would get her chance to be free from the clutches of the spiders.
¡°So,¡± Shai asked, ¡°why are you silent?¡±
Marvel let out a croak. ¡°I, Marvel of the¡ª¡± Marvel screeched in agony as another voice rang into their mind.
¡°Little Marvel, I¡¯m so very disappointed in you.¡± It wasn¡¯t the voice of the spider mama, Serenity, but a voice full of contempt.
¡°Elegy?¡± Marvel barely managed to utter under the mental pressure. ¡°You were spying on us?!¡±
¡°How could you sully the Great Mother, for this little, lowly reptile.¡±
¡°Your mama¡¯s lowly,¡± retorted Shai, against her better judgment.
Chapter 44 - Budding Friendship
The mental pressure crashed down on Shai, impaling her mind at once. She hissed in agony, as the pain racked her mind. She decided to assault the spider with more of her unbridled emotions, as she did to Serenity to flee from her grasp before. However, before she could make up her mind, the pressure subsided.
¡°Stop it, Elegy!¡± Another voice joined. Shai recognised this one to be the Spider mama, Serenity. ¡°You are not allowed to do that. She¡¯s still too young.¡±
Only a weird noise came, though it sounded condescending to Shai. In her panic, Marvel clutched to the only straw thrown at her.
¡°Serenity, please,¡± Marvel pleaded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know about the horrifying thing. I only wanted to help.¡±
¡°You have helped enough,¡± said Serenity, breaking the young spider¡¯s heart, not that spiders had one physically. ¡°Your little fun-seeking almost led to your death and risked the safety of many of our clan. Perhaps we had been too soft on you, or perhaps the lapse in our teaching made you turn out this way. Whatever it is, you need to be punished for directly disobeying your elders.¡±
Marvel¡¯s eyes lost all intensity. Shai wasn¡¯t sure if she understood all of it, but it appeared Marvel had done something unforgivable. She even stopped struggling in her confinement, silent, wallowing in her guilt.
¡°You¡¯re not allowed to leave the Hell Chasm, until we decide on your terms,¡± Serenity announced.
¡°Not that you have a chance of climbing out of here,¡± the other spider''s voice added smartly.
Then one of the powerful pulses retreated from her mind, but Shai wasn¡¯t relieved, not even when she heard Serenity¡¯s next words in her mind.
¡°As for you little snake¡ You¡¯re free to go as you like, but do not for a second think of sabotaging the Empathic Spider Clan. I did not know why the Great Mother ordered as such, but I promise you that if anything befalls Marvel, I won¡¯t bother with what my orders are.¡±
Shai shuddered at the open threat Serenity left behind. It had left her unnerved, and intimidated. But weirdly, the spider made it seem as though she could leave if she liked, so long as she didn¡¯t harm Marvel or sabotage their clan?
Is this a trap?
Shai didn¡¯t try to escape on her own after the elder empathic spiders departed. For all she knew, they could still be lurking in the dark, listening in, keeping an eye on them. A moment of lapse in judgement, and she would be in the stomach of one of them.
So, Shai did what was left there for her to do. She freed Marvel from the webs, even though the young spider stopped asking for freedom. The spider just didn¡¯t come out of the cocoon after Shai stretched the hole for her to get out.
¡°Shai,¡± Marvel¡¯s empathic pulses entered her mind after a few minutes. She sounded rattled, weak as if the assault sucked away all her mental faculty. ¡°I didn¡¯t know... I didn¡¯t know they were listening to us.¡±
Shai sighed. ¡°I believe you.¡±
An uneasy silence flowed between them, even though they could feel each other¡¯s presence through the link.
¡°So what do you think they will do to us?¡± Shai asked again.
¡°I...¡± Marvel didn¡¯t have an answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°Hey, cheer up,¡± Shai said. ¡°Do you want them to see you beat yourself like this?¡±
Marvel simply looked at her with pairs of disinterested eyes.
I¡¯m terrible at this, Shai thought, but she persisted.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
¡°You know what, your Mama, I mean Serenity said before she left?¡± Shai tried again. ¡°She said it was their fault for not teaching you better. So why beat yourself up for it? You¡¯re only a child. Mistakes are inevitable.¡±
Marvel¡¯s eyes flashed a little, but soon they returned to the leaden state.
¡°Also, you haven¡¯t sullied your Mother¡¯s name,¡± Shai said firmly. ¡°No, it¡¯s not because that spider stopped you from taking the oath. Even if you had taken the oath, it wouldn¡¯t have sullied her name.¡±
Marvel¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°Only when you break the vow you made in her name, will you have disappointed her, sullied her.¡± Shai thought for a moment to add, ¡°And I¡¯m not saying this because I wanted you to take the oath again. There¡¯s no need for it.¡±
Considering the reaction to the term ¡°Great Mother¡±, Shai would rather stay as far from it as possible.
¡°Listen, Marvel,¡± Shai said, coming face to face with the spider, who was many folds bigger than her. Yet Marvel was so small and young. ¡°Do you really think they really left you to die? As you said, they follow the rules like it is their religion, but I don¡¯t think they are zealous enough to want your death or even punish you that hard. From what you told me about this Hell Chasm, it all sounded like a nightmare made real to scare children into abiding by the laws.¡±
Marvel expressed emphatic pulses of denial. Well, that was what it felt like to Shai.
¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Marvel finally said.
Shai tilted her head in curiosity.
¡°This place isn¡¯t just to scare children,¡± Marvel said. ¡°It¡¯s real. Over a couple of hundred individuals sent deeper into this chasm for penance here over the centuries. Do you know the survival rate?¡±
¡°Not high?¡± Shai said the obvious.
¡°One. Only one of the two hundred offenders survived the journey. And it was Midnight.¡±
¡°That scary darkness?¡± Shai said, a shudder crept through her spine simply by remembering the horrific aura of the spider. Perhaps only the scary and sleepy basilisk could compare to the spider titled Midnight. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I won¡¯t mind the Hell Chasm if I can become powerful like her.¡±
That seemed to stir Marvel¡¯s spirit, as the spark returned in her eyes. ¡°If we are to climb this chasm,¡± she began, ¡°we need to form a game plan first.¡±
¡°And to form a game plan, we need to understand what we are dealing with,¡± Shai added, unsure when the ¡°I¡± had turned to ¡°We.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not particularly sure,¡± Marvel said. ¡°There¡¯s the essence of Darkness, and its nullifying effect, along with a mental corrosion that¡¯s been affecting my mind since the beginning.¡±
¡°By the essence of Darkness, do you mean something like the Feast, Hunger, Adhesion?¡± Shai couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°A concept?¡±
Marvel thought for a moment to answer. ¡°It¡¯s more like the manifestation of the concept of darkness,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It is a treasure to a high-rank cultivator of Darkness path, but for someone like us, it¡¯s a certain death. All pure essences of cosmic laws are highly toxic. Before iron rank, it is certain death.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Shai¡¯s interest didn¡¯t wane. ¡°So that Midnight of your clan...¡±
¡°Shai, I know your interest, but you need to understand not everyone is suited for the path of Darkness,¡± Marvel said, understanding what was going through her head. ¡°She was named Midnight for a reason, fated for the path of darkness. It is not a path suitable for any of us.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m named too,¡± Shai said cockily. ¡°And Shai means Shadow in the common tongue.¡±
Marvel let out a humph. ¡°Shai means Gift,¡± she said. ¡°I may be young, but I¡¯m not illiterate.¡±
Shai was momentarily lost for words. How the hell did this little spider know that?
Perhaps it''s just a coincidence. Shai shook her head. There were still other paths left for her to gain strength.
Shai opened her quest menu. ¡°Oh, that reminds me, I got a quest to earn the Mark of Defier for killing the wyrm, and it¡¯s utterly diabolical.¡±
¡°What!?¡± Marvel exclaimed.
¡°I need to kill a thousand corrupted creatures that were at least on the same level or higher than me to get the mark,¡± Shai said, letting out an exasperated hiss. ¡°Thankfully, Grandpa seems to count all the corrupted creatures I have killed so far.¡±
Still, it was a huge number. Shai¡¯s progress was barely 78/1000.
¡°Grandpa?¡± Marvel asked, confused.
¡°You know, the system voice who announces everything,¡± Shai said. ¡°He sounds like a good grandpa to me.¡±
¡°You know that voice...¡± Marvel was at a loss for words for what she was supposed to say. ¡°Never mind. Mark of Defier¡ªif this mark needs you to hunt down so many corrupted creatures, chances are you¡¯ll get attribute bonuses in percentages. You know what that means, right?¡±
Even though she asked the question, Marvel¡¯s eagerness held no bounds as she answered herself. ¡°They will be less helpful when your numbers are low, but when your attributes are monstrous, you¡¯ll get the real benefit of the bonus.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Shai beamed. Another reason for her to start hunting those tainted creatures.
¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± the spider said with some uncertainty. ¡°Since this is a specialised mark, you might get some resistance power as well.¡±
Chapter 45 - The Council
Marvel seemed to know a lot about the system stuff. Well, considering she had years to examine the system, and elders helped her way, it was understandable.
¡°I also got a quest, but it¡¯s a different one than yours,¡± Marvel said, and somehow managed to show her the details of the quest, shoving the system page of the quest into her head.
[Quest: Apex Predator
You have taken the first step to upgrade your mark, Predator, by defeating an Iron-rank creature when you¡¯re a Copper ranker.
Requirements: Hunt 10 creatures of Iron rank before advancing to Iron. Progress: 1/10
Reward: Mark: Apex Predator.]
¡°Apex Predator gives a 10% boost to all the primary attributes,¡± Marvel added promptly. ¡°I know because all three of our guardians have it, though they didn¡¯t get a quest to earn the mark.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Shai tried to encourage Marvel with her mental wave, but she failed miserably. Apparently, it wasn¡¯t so easy without the concept of Empathy. ¡°You know, I have a quest for the same mark as well, in which I had to slay ten copper rankers. I¡¯m more than halfway done with it.¡±
¡°Apex Predator?¡± Marvel asked, sounding somewhat bamboozled. ¡°How did you get it so early?¡±
She sounded rather envious, Well, why wouldn¡¯t she be? After all, their recent experience proved that killing Iron ranker was way harder than copper rankers.
¡°Well, I accidentally killed a couple of copper rankers, and Grandpa was kind enough to give me the quest. I just need to slay five¡ª¡± Shai paused to check the exact quest. ¡°¡ªno four more copper ranker to get the mark. The fight with the¡±
Marvel gave her that odd look again. ¡°That reminds me, you can gain an easy kill with that one, perhaps.¡± Marvel gestured with her eyes.
Shai followed and found the human boy, hanging on the other side. A deep-seated greed for power overflowed inside her, stirring her power of Hunger. If she wanted, it would be an easy kill. The boy seemed like he was half dead already. Her eyes grew colder, glued to the vulnerable figure that seemed to be asking her to kill him. He would die anyway without anyone¡¯s help, so why not get some benefit out of it?
That was what most people would do. But...
But Shai wasn¡¯t like most people. She had been a weak girl, but her father always taught her to be kinder.
It¡¯s merely copper rankers, Shai thought, surprised at how her mindset changed. I¡¯ll get my chance soon enough.
It was baffling how she saw him as merely a copper ranker now. Well, she was Lvl 22 now. Battling early copper ranker wasn¡¯t even a challenge anymore. Shai had come a long way in these couple of weeks, from dreading copper rankers to pitying them.
No need to kill someone who doesn¡¯t deserve it. That was tricky logic, though. How could Shai tell he doesn¡¯t deserve it, just because he looked as miserable? Because she felt pity for him?
¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re thinking through this,¡± Marvel added, sensing her chaotic state. ¡°Solace says, it¡¯s easy to lose our way in the path. Establishing some hard rules for ourselves helps in not getting lost.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
¡°I...¡± Shai didn¡¯t know what to say.
¡°I understand,¡± Marvel said, expressing an empathic wave of reassurance. ¡°Also, Shai, you might want to check your emotional state now. I can¡¯t help but suck on them.¡±
Shai glowered at her.
¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± Marvel complained. ¡°The aura oozing from the depths is already making me deranged. I think that is the reason our kind calls it the Hell Chasm.¡±
Shai breathed in and out, and with a prompt mental exercise, she fortified her mind.
¡°So what do we do about that human?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to kill someone innocent to gain power,¡± Shai said.
¡°Great,¡± Marvel said, already taking the first step. ¡°Let¡¯s kill the human.¡±
Shai was baffled. ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡±
¡°You said you won¡¯t kill innocents, which this human clearly isn¡¯t.¡±
Marvel¡¯s logic baffled her even more. Her behaviour was innocent, though her claim was likely misguided. ¡°How do you know he isn¡¯t innocent?¡±
Marvel gave her a look as if it was obvious. ¡°I can give you three reasons and I don¡¯t even know him,¡± the spider said, lifting one of her appendages. ¡°First, he¡¯s a human, who trespassed our territory. Second, he was sent to the Hell Chasm by my elders, that was already enough of a reason. Lastly, I can feel guilt and misery oozing out of him. Such thick emotions cannot be borne without the guilt of doing something criminal.¡±
Shai shook her head. Clearly, the empathic spider clan¡¯s metric to judge guilt was more than just a little haphazard.
¡°I get your points,¡± she said eventually, ¡°but most of them aren¡¯t valid.¡±
¡°Then how about we ask him if he¡¯s guilty or not,¡± Marvel proposed and started forming a telepathic link with the human.
¡°Wait, Marvel, it doesn¡¯t work that way.¡± Before she could finish, Shai could feel another presence in her head.
¡°Hey, human, are you guilty?¡± Marvel asked, as if everyone was honest and just.
¡°Mhhmmm,¡± the human uttered, clearly not in his right mind with the voice speaking in his head.
¡°I asked, are you¡ª¡±
¡°Marvel, stop it,¡± Shai said. ¡°You won¡¯t get him this way. Let me do the interrogation.¡±
Marvel exchanged a look with the human, who finally seemed to open his eyes. She relented. ¡°Fine.¡±
Shai calmed her mind and concentrated on the human presence in her head. ¡°So, you have awakened, human. Good,¡± she said, adopting her cocky persona. ¡°The council wants to speak with you.¡±
¡°What?!¡± It wasn¡¯t only the human who spoke, but Marvel joined in the confusion as well.
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Marvel transferred privately to Shai. ¡°Council? Of what?¡±
¡°Anything,¡± Shai replied. She didn¡¯t put much thought into it while speaking. ¡°How does the Council of Truth sound?¡±
Marvel looked at her flatly. How does a spider with eight eyes that glowed like gems make that look?
¡°No? Then how about justice?¡± Shai thought for a second to dismiss it. ¡°The Council of Justice has a certain ring to it, but it can burn us with self-righteous rage. Trust me, you would want to stay away from it.¡±
She had seen people taking themselves too seriously, just because of a badge and uniform. Perhaps she should put more thought into it before speaking nonsense.
¡°Mhm, excuse me,¡± said the human captive weakly. He peered into the darkness, but to no avail. He might have [Night Vision] skill, but he didn¡¯t have the essence left in him to activate it. ¡°You¡¯re saying something? Are you still there?¡±
¡°We are,¡± Shai said sternly, returning to the arrogant persona. ¡°We are everywhere.¡±
In this instance, they were below where the human was hanging. He had no way of noticing them.
¡°What do you want?!¡± The young man was unable to keep fear from spilling out into his voice. ¡°I. . .¡±
¡°What we want is. . . very simple,¡± Shai said, racking her mind to come up with something imposing. ¡°All we demand is order. We serve the realm. The Council of Order¡¯s sworn duty is to maintain the balance and order of the realm.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know whether I should be outraged at your audacity or laugh at the human¡¯s gullibility,¡± Marvel said, her tone was something between miffed and baffled.
¡°He¡¯s buying that?¡± Shai was surprised. Perhaps she wasn¡¯t that bad of an actor at all.
¡°You know there will be some ramifications for falsely personifying the Council of Order, right?¡±
Shai¡¯s mind whirled. ¡°Wait, something like that actually exists?¡±
Marvel gave her a look as if she was looking at a maniac.
¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Shai hissed. ¡°Grandpa already gave us the opportunity to maintain balance, and we did bring order, killing that wyrm. Or is it just that specific group of individuals who have the privilege to bring order?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no point arguing with you,¡± Marvel said, rolling her red eyes almost too humanly. ¡°Hope, the human is guilty in your metric that we don¡¯t have to worry about you running your mouth wild.¡±
Chapter 46 - Interrogation
¡°I. . . Please,¡± the boy said, ¡°I have done nothing unjust to deserve this. The council must see that I am¡ª¡±
¡°It is not for you to dictate what the council must do to preserve order,¡± Shai shouted, cutting the human short. ¡°In the end, justice is merely the by-product of order.¡±
¡°It is?¡± Marvel asked in mock interest.
Silencing Marvel with a glare, Shai returned to the boy, who went completely still from her rebuttal.
¡°Boy, I¡¯m going to ask you a few questions, and you¡¯re going to answer them all truthfully,¡± Shai said. Her voice chilled the captive¡¯s spine, though it could just be the coldness. ¡°No tricks and falsehood can hide the truth. We know how to wrench everything out of your heart.¡±
¡°We do?¡± Marvel interrupted again. Shai was about to outright ignore her when she added, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I can merely detect falsehood, and it hardly takes any heart-wrenching effort.¡±
Marvel seemed to regain her cockiness after Shai¡¯s brilliant counselling. She would let the spider be cocky for now. Better than her self-pitying self, she supposed. Marvel was far from being unbearable, and her abilities made her invaluable.
¡°First question, do you understand what I said?¡± Shai asked.
¡°Yes, Um. . . High Lady,¡± the captive said.
¡°What is your name?¡± Shai asked.
¡°Javi. Javi of House Ramone.¡±
¡°Javi,¡± Shai repeated, wittingly ignoring the house name even though it sounded important. Well, the boy thought it was important, that was all the reason she needed. ¡°Are you aware of the chaos you created?¡±
¡°I. . .¡± the boy stuttered. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. . . It wasn¡¯t my intention. I merely. . .¡±
¡°Wanted to help,¡± completed Shai. She wished she could be playful all the way as she went deeper into the matter. In a way, she was acting as the judge for his life. If she deemed him guilty, or an evil person, his life would be forfeited. That was a lot of pressure on a small hatchling.
As those thoughts swirled inside her head, the first thing Shai perceived was that she didn¡¯t like judging other people. But it is what it is.
It didn¡¯t take long for Shai to get the gist of the story from Javi. The boy wasn¡¯t evil as far as she was concerned, just stupid and eager to prove himself in front of others. That eagerness led him to his current circumstances. Not just him, his stupidity involved a few more bystanders to their deaths and even led his half-sister to fall within the grasp of those mercenaries.
Shai assumed he was talking about the people those men were looking for.
Apparently, it was Javi who hired them at the beginning to help his way through his half-sister. How could the young scion know that mercenaries¡¯ only loyalty lies in coins? Although he had given them sufficient coins and promised more, the mercenaries didn¡¯t take long to act on their interest. Even the name of House Ramone couldn¡¯t budge them once they decided to turn on him.
Foolishly, Javi led them to his sister, unaware of the conspiracy brewing within their ranks. They had poisoned his half-sister almost to her demise. The only reason they left him was because they believed him to be harmless.
The trust between the siblings was already thin before they came to this expedition. His sister became completely distrustful of him after the incident. In the end, Javi used himself to give them a chance to escape. Or at least, that was what he told himself, a larger part of the escape attributed to the elf companion his sister had befriended, whom he didn¡¯t like as much.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The rest was pretty clear to Shai. Javi was captured by those men¡ªshe discovered that first-hand¡ªbut when the elder spiders attacked, those two mercenaries had no choice but to leave him to the spiders¡¯ mercy.
¡°Still, something doesn¡¯t add up,¡± Shai said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t unheard of for humans to act in their interest, but there should be a motive behind what the mercenaries did.¡±
¡°House Ramone has many enemies within and outside the empire,¡± Javi said, somehow sounding a little relieved after spilling out his misdeeds. ¡°There are many people who wouldn¡¯t mind the fall of our house.¡±
¡°Just great,¡± interjected Marvel. ¡°If you have known that, shouldn¡¯t you have thought twice before hiring suspicious people behind everyone¡¯s back, dumb human?¡±
Javi was about to burst into an apology, but Shai stopped him, asking another important question. ¡°Why do you feel the death of two members of a house will lead to the fall of your house?¡± she asked, adding unmasked scorn in her tone. ¡°Boy, you¡¯re only copper ranked, and so was your sister. Isn¡¯t it a little presumptuous for of your level to assume so highly of yourself?¡±
After what Shai experienced, Copper ranked seemed to be the bare minimum to flee from them, and that too, if luck played in their favour.
¡°You don¡¯t understand. . .¡± Javi¡¯s voice trailed off as a couple of grumping ¡°humph¡± entered his mind. ¡°Excuse me, High Lady. I. . . It was presumptuous of me to believe you aren¡¯t aware of the chaos brewing in our state. Men die every day, as the scourge breaks through our border. Somehow they have taken control of a beast tide and pillaged the state, and feasted upon honest men. If they aren¡¯t stopped, I fear the whole empire will suffer, not just our state.¡±
Shai exchanged a look with Marvel, who was just as oblivious as her. Well, considering how unaware Marvel was of the corruption growing in the place she called home, Shai wasn¡¯t surprised. It appeared only the upper echelon of the spider clan knew about these things, and they dutifully decided to leave the rest in the dark.
¡°And you feel you¡¯re the solution to this chaos?¡± Shai asked scornfully.
¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Javi ignored her scorn, wallowing in guilt. The scorn of some high lady was the last of his concerns. ¡°But Isla, she¡¯s different. She might, no, she must be the one.¡±
¡°This human has gone nuts,¡± Marvel said. ¡°He mentioned his sister is merely a high copper, and as we know it, she might have already fallen to those mercenaries.¡±
Javi gritted his teeth, but Marvel¡¯s words sunk in soon enough. There was a time when Shai was as big a sis-con as this boy, but she learned her sister was but a single person, powerless against the multitude will of the mass. It is what it is.
There were two possibilities here. Either Javi was a fool, as Marvel mentioned, or they were missing something. While the chances of it being the latter were low, she couldn¡¯t discard it.
¡°So, what do you think?¡± Marvel transferred privately.
¡°Still doesn¡¯t add up,¡± Shai said, racking her small brain to connect the strings. ¡°If their state is under chaos, what are they doing here? Javi believed he was working towards saving his home. Is there something here that will lead them to believe that?¡±
Marvel thought for a moment to dismiss her conjecture. ¡°Who cares? Isn¡¯t your interrogation to find out whether he¡¯s guilty or not?¡±
Shai cringed at the realisation. They had wasted enough time already. It was about time she came to a decision.
¡°It might sound a little wrong to you,¡± Shai said, ¡°but I don¡¯t think he¡¯s evil, or guilty. He might feel guilt for his foolishness that led to devastation, but his intention wasn¡¯t bad. He merely wanted to help, like you... like me.¡±
Marvel was prepared to interject, but she cowered after Shai finished.
Is it enough if our intentions are right? Shai wondered. Even when the results are devastating?
¡°Perhaps not,¡± Shai said, ¡°but I can¡¯t decide now.¡±
¡°Hmm, then what should we do about him?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shai said. ¡°But if what you said is right about this chasm...¡±
¡°So we are just going to leave him to die?¡±
Shai nodded in agreement. Yeah, I know it¡¯s a stupid thing to do, but I cannot help it.
Shai was grateful that Marvel said nothing about her stupid decision. Sometimes even an eight-legged monster can be more understanding than a human.
¡°Umm, Honoured High Lady?¡± Javi¡¯s voice echoed in her mind as she was just about to depart. He sounded terribly nervous again. ¡°So, what did you decide? Will you help me? Our state, our people, need it more than anything. The council must know this...¡±
A sense of guilt washed over Shai as she realised what she had done. She had given the young human false hope¡ªhope she couldn¡¯t fulfil. She had no clue how it became like this.
Shai only personified to intimidate the human, not to give him false hope.
Chapter 47 - Solace
In her loss, Shai turned to the spider, but Marvel was way younger than her, and it was impossible for her to come up with something Shai couldn¡¯t in this regard. Shai decided not to burden young Marvel with such matters, as it was her issue to deal with.
¡°The council has decided,¡± Shai said. ¡°We have deemed you do not offset the balance.¡±
¡°Then?¡± Javi asked. Even though Shai didn¡¯t have [Concept of Empathy], she could feel hope brewing inside him.
Why are these emotions? Shai complained inwardly. I¡¯m a savage creature. What is the need for such emotions?
Shai felt her silence would be enough for an answer, but Javi kept on asking, latching onto the straw thrown at him. Shai was torn between creeping away without replying and crushing the boy¡¯s spirit, spilling the last bit. Either way, it was inevitable.
Abruptly, another presence brushed against her mind, as Marvel screamed out, a spark of spirituality radiating from her being.
¡°Solace!¡± A barrage of delightful empathic pulses.
Shai¡¯s first thought was to hide, but there was no place to conceal herself. Not that she was given any time. Oddly, she didn¡¯t discover any spark or halo of aura anywhere, until she found a harmless white glow approaching them. That hardly reassured her, as Shai had suffered enough to believe her instinctive completely.
¡°Solace! You¡¯re here!¡± Marvel¡¯s spirit lifted with the presence.
¡°Oh dear, you look awful,¡± a caring voice answered her call. ¡°Come on, I came here to take you away.¡±
With that, a long string of web shot towards Marvel and latched onto her, pulling her upwards.
¡°But the punishment?¡± Marvel didn¡¯t resist the web lifting her.
¡°Your discipline will continue,¡± the elderly voice continued. ¡°But this isn¡¯t the way of it. The younglings are too impatient in their disciplining. But don¡¯t blame them, after what happened to Midnight.¡±
Marvel¡¯s silhouette disappeared into the darkness as the string pulled her up out of the hell chasm, leaving Shai alone to contemplate her options.
Shai wasn¡¯t sure if she should celebrate getting rid of the spider or be sad. But before she knew it, another string of web latched onto her and pulled her upwards.
Shai fought against her instinct to not struggle with the lift. She let the web pull her up, her distress growing with each passing moment.
They weren¡¯t that deep in the chasm, as it barely took a minute for her to reach the top even with the web lifting her slowly. But that wasn¡¯t important anymore, as a figure of a colossal spider came into her view, dwarfing Marvel, who stood next to her.
She was missing an appendage, but Solace, the elder empathic spider, cut a domineering figure, a metre taller than all the spiders she had met. Moreover, her entire figure was pristine white with small silver and grey rune marks covering all over her body¡ªsome of them were runes she recognised, most she didn''t.
[Solace - Elder Empathic Spider - ??? ???]This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
¡°Thank the Great Mother that the corruption hadn¡¯t affected you extensively,¡± the Elder spider said as she checked on Marvel, though Shai could feel a pair of her eyes focused on her, examining her.
Shai felt a deep chill in her spine, even though she detected no threat from the elder spider. The thought of fleeing returned. Unfortunately, she would need a better opportunity to try. Shai refrained from making a spectacle of herself.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s get to my dwellings,¡± Solace urged the spider as she turned. ¡°There¡¯s hardly a point staying here in your state.¡±
¡°Solace! What about¡ª¡±
¡°Dear, you can bring your friend as well,¡± Solace said, continuing on her path. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can find accommodation for her as well.¡±
¡°Friend?¡± Marvel repeated, a spark of ambiguous pulse radiated through the link. ¡°She¡¯s not my... Come on, Shai.¡±
Shai exchanged a look between Marvel and the elder spider and understood it wasn¡¯t a request. She considered for a second. Going with them would very likely entangle her more with the spiders, which wasn¡¯t something she would like to be involved in, considering her strength was minuscule compared to these elder spiders.
Hell, Serenity was already close to a hundred level, but this elder Spider might be double of that. Moroever, Marvel mentioned all the rune constructs were created by Solace¡ This elder spider¡
A weird notion came to her mind. Can I ask her to teach me?
Shai calculated her chance of escaping without being fatally injured. The chances were...not that great. Hmm, why am I thinking of escaping? This elder spider didn¡¯t seem bad...
Unwittingly, Shai crept closer to the two spiders, unsure how her mind eased up readily. Let¡¯s not take chances for now, Shai thought, her tension waning somewhat as she came to a decision. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t kill me outright. They had opportunities to do that before... And Marvel is nice, if only a little pompous.
Right, I will have all the time to make plans and escape.
¡°Both of you need an abundance of sleep to recover your mental faculty,¡± the elder spider transferred to them. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the explanation to myself until you can think clearly.¡±
Yeah, she seems like a nice granny. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t eat me.
The spiders took her to their dwellings, and for the first time inside the dungeon, she saw lights. It was a pit similar to most others in size, though the inside was vastly different, with dozens of light constructs brimming with gentle light, giving a civilised feel.
It had been days since she last saw light, so even if the lights weren¡¯t natural, Shai was delighted under their luminance. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t just light; the air was fresh, the spirituality in balance, with the minimal aura of any particular elements. Shai already felt her exhaustion waning just being there.
The elder spider didn¡¯t speak to them after reaching their dwelling; she began tinkering with a lot of constructs, leaving them to observe. Marvel became bored within a minute, while Shai¡¯s reaction was exactly the opposite. Her eyes blazed with amazement as she barely understood what the elder spider was doing.
The way the elder spider was tinkering with the runes was something she had never seen. Solace spell-forged dozens of complicated scripts in thin air effortlessly and started to lay them together with array flags to make a formation.
Shai¡¯s interest was piqued instantly. Although she recognised the runes as simple alterations of the 64 common runes she learned from the pit, she didn¡¯t recognise the script at all, nor could she tell what they were meant to be used for. Fascinating.
Marvel couldn¡¯t endure the silence anymore and asked the granny spider. ¡°Solace, what¡¯s that for?¡±
The elder spider answered when she was done with the formation. ¡°A tool to help you sleep,¡± she said and surged out with a peculiar power of a concept¡ªno, two concepts; one was light, and the other was something she couldn¡¯t tell¡ªinfusing the unique aura into the formation.
Shai¡¯s eyes narrowed on the array of flags floating in the air, swirling in a circle. They blazed in a dreamy white light, as they moved to surround them.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s time to sleep,¡± Solace said as the formation completely surrounded them into a ball of white forcefield.
¡°Solace, what is this?¡± The spider¡¯s effort to keep her lucidity became nigh impossible.
¡°A custom Grand Dream Formation,¡± the elder spider said offhandedly. ¡°It¡¯ll help you expunge all the signs of corruption and foreign will from your being as you rest. Come on, no time to dillydally, I have a lot of work to do¡¡±
¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t...¡± Shai let out a hiss of exhaustion and fell flat on the ground in deep slumber within moments.
¡°Don¡¯t resist. Have a nice dream. You need it.¡±
Chapter 48 - Compulsion
Shai had a pleasant dream, one of the nicest dreams she had in the last couple of years. The details were lost in her mind when she roused, but the indications were evident. She was refreshed and felt stronger than she had ever been.
It wasn¡¯t simply because of the sleep. Although she needed rest, it didn¡¯t explain how invigorating she felt. It felt like some kind of therapy. Her body felt light as a feather. Essence weaving was easier than ever, and most of all, no troubling thoughts were weighing on her mind.
Then came the barrage of notifications, as Grandpa explained the improvements she had made while sleeping. Shai couldn¡¯t believe it.
[Congratulations! Advanced Meditation (E) has reached 100% of mastery. +4 to Mind, Soul, Recovery.]
[You do not have enough Evolution Points to evolve the skill Advanced Meditation (E).]
[You do not meet the prerequisite to evolve Advanced Meditation (E). Please Advance to the next rank.]
[Congratulations! Your concept of Hunger has reached the Intermediate state.]
[The effect of your aspect, Essence Eater (B) has been strengthened. +10% Efficiency to Recovery ¡ª> +20% Efficiency to Recovery.]
Shai didn¡¯t wait anymore and summoned her status page to check.
________
[SYSTEM PAGE]
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 22
Laws: Concept of Hunger (intermediate)
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute:
-
Physique: 44
-
Mind: 58 (+20%)
-
Soul: 66
-
Recovery: 41 (+20%)
Special Attributes:
-
Insight: 2
-
Evolution: 0
-
Fortune: 9
Unallocated points: 13
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (A) | Poison Affinity (D) | Essence Eater (B)
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 100% | Predatory Instinct (D) - 73% | Arcane Shot (D) - 76% | Essence Weaving (E) - 84% | Force Shield (E) - 49% | Empower (E) - 92% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 100% | Spellforging (D) - 1%
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I promise I won¡¯t eat you...If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
[System Log] [Active Quest] [Skill Reservoir]
___________
How long have I slept to receive so many benefits? Shai couldn¡¯t help but wonder. She had 13 unallocated points, she could use them to at least evolve [Mental Corrosion Resistance (D)], but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was the right place to do it. After all, she was right within the grasp of those frightening spiders.
Marvel was already awoken before her, now in meditation, waiting for Solace to return. The array flags that let them have the rejuvenated rest lay in one corner, next to them was a small heap of gleaming crystals and mushrooms.
Shai¡¯s stomach lurched with a reminder that she had eaten nothing for a long time. Even though her hunger was immense, the grumble her little stomach could create was minuscule, yet that was enough to alert the young spider.
¡°Come on, eat them,¡± Marvel told her. ¡°Solace left them for us.¡±
The spider probably discerned her hunger through the empathic waves she was radiating in her unguarded state. Figuring that out, Shai guarded her mind and slithered to the food. She helped herself, gobbling them without showing any qualms. Well, this was how they were supposed to treat a guest.
By the time she was finished, the heap of mushrooms was half as high.
¡°Can¡¯t believe you can eat so much,¡± Marvel said, not looking at her, ¡°even with that narrow body of yours.¡±
¡°I¡¯m special like that,¡± Shai replied offhandedly, her eyes returning to those array flags.
They seemed to have lost most of their spirituality and some other components. They weren¡¯t damaged in any way, merely drained of their essence. Recharging them with the required essence would bring them back to their prior state, though she wasn¡¯t aware of the cost.
¡°What are these arrays?¡± Shai couldn¡¯t help but ask.
¡°Some kind of formation with the laws of Dream,¡± Marvel said, turning her head to look at her, resting from her meditation. ¡°Solace said it is a smaller copy of the Grand Dream Formation. It helps with enlightenment as well as sustaining mental faculties. You have noticed that already, no? Half of my skills and abilities improved by a few percent.¡±
Shai agreed, eyeing the array of flags greedily. Obviously, she didn¡¯t act on her greed. With her mind working perfectly, Shai wasn¡¯t one to make foolish mistakes. The spider granny would make a leather accessory out of her, if she messed up with her stuff.
¡°This formation was way better than any of the formations that helped with cultivation,¡± Marvel kept on singing praise of the formation, and Solace, the creator of it. She seemed to respect the elder spider a great deal.
¡°You haven¡¯t used the Grand Dream Formation before today?¡±
¡°No,¡± Marvel transferred an empathic wave of denial. ¡°Before today, I never knew something like this existed. I wondered why they never let me use it.¡±
Before Shai could say anything, the familiar voice of the elder spider rang in their minds.
¡°Because we cannot afford to use them unless it was a dire need.¡±
The tone wasn¡¯t angry or anything, but Shai felt her body tense upon sensing the presence of the elder spider. Her mind reeled, producing the highest form of mental defence she was capable of. It was all instinctual. Even though [Golden Eyes] depicted this elder spider with in a whitish halo, Shai felt a deep-rooted dread from her.
Solace easily noticed the change in her state and mental defence, but instead of being angry, she chuckled, dropping behind them. ¡°Marvel, your friend seems more suited for the path of Empathy than you,¡± she said. ¡°Do I have to tell you every time to guard your mind from empathic manipulations?¡±
¡°But my mind is guarded,¡± Marvel whined, creeping closer to the greater spider.
¡°With only the basic form of defence.¡±
¡°But it is still better than Shai¡¯s,¡± Marvel retorted.
¡°But not the best you¡¯re capable of.¡±
Marvel grumbled as she guarded her mind correctly. She wasn¡¯t annoyed or angry in any way. ¡°What¡¯s the point, anyway? If you want, you can easily invade my mind.¡±
¡°That should have made you more wary, eager to improve, not disregard the defences and be prone to manipulation. Serenity was right to be worried about you.¡±
¡°But,¡± Marvel said, ¡°you would never manipulate my mind.¡±
Shai¡¯s insides twisted, and she finally understood why she was guarded against the elder spider, even though she showed no form of hostility.
¡°You...¡± Shai said, her tone shaking, ¡°You compelled me into coming with you here.¡±
¡°Compel is a big word, child,¡± the elder Arachnid said, not even a little offended at Shai¡¯s accusation. ¡°I merely soothed your mind lest you try something rash. Young ones seem to master that before any of their recognised skills. Kismet bless them.¡±
Shai¡¯s indignation only rose upon learning that she was manipulated into coming with them. Even if it wasn¡¯t compulsion, her free Will was violated. She had every reason to be angry.
But then again, the elder spider didn¡¯t seem to have any bad intentions. She was merely doing it for her clan, and...
¡°You¡¯re doing it again,¡± Shai screamed, fortifying her mental defence even though she saw no particular weakness in it.
¡°Am I?¡± Solace seemed amused. ¡°I guess your time at the Hell Chasm made you sharper in detecting mental manipulations. Just needed the rest to cash into the benefits.¡±
There were some helpful implication in her phrase, but Shai was too furious to notice. Shai stared at her accusingly, as Marvel crept between them to amend the conflict. It did not mend anything. Shai would never forgive anyone manipulating her mind.
But Marvel was quick to notice the implication. ¡°Hell Chasm benefited us?¡±
Solace gave her a look as if it was obvious. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed the benefit?¡±
¡°But I thought they were from the Grand Dream formation.¡±
¡°True, but not completely,¡± Solace said. ¡°You¡¯ll probably need a week to process it all. The formation simply progressed the process by seven times. However, don¡¯t just run off there¡ training your mind there takes a heavy toil.¡±
Suddenly, everything clicked in Shai¡¯s mind. The guardian spiders didn¡¯t just leave them there as punishments, but as contingencies to build a defence against mental corrosion. At least that¡¯s what the Elder Spider implied.
¡°We slept for a whole day?¡±
¡°Eighteen hours,¡± Solace said. ¡°The point is Hell Chasm is rewarding if you have the Will to endure it. Or did you think the guardian left you there to die?¡±
Marvel¡¯s empathic pulses stirred. ¡°Then... they¡ª¡±
¡°Still, their decision was rash. Directly sending to the chasm in the state you were in, there was a good chance of you not making it if they didn¡¯t help you out. Now, I just hope you learned your lesson, and won¡¯t try anything rash after learning about corruption.¡±
Physically, spiders can¡¯t cry, however, Marvel¡¯s empathic pulses reacted to the turmoil she was feeling, even affecting Shai through the link.
They aren¡¯t monsters, Shai couldn¡¯t help but wonder, at least, not Little Marvel.
But she wasn¡¯t so sure about that White Death, or this Elder Spider.
Chapter 49 - The Nursery
¡°Solace, what is this corruption about? Why have I never heard about it before?¡± Marvel asked, controlling her emotions. For creatures with inherited empathic power, emotions come as easily as hunger, but she would only be labelled as a kid if she was led by her emotions all the time.
Solace didn¡¯t answer immediately. ¡°Did you gain an Empathic Corruption Resistant Skill?¡±
¡°I did,¡± Marvel replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t take it immediately, but everything went bad, and I had to take it.¡±
¡°Good. How far you have improved in it?¡±
¡°Its an E-rank skill, but I get it to 48% just battling with that¡ you know,¡± Marvel said.
Eventually, Solace quenched Marvel¡¯s thirst for information. ¡°You never know about corruption because we have done everything to protect you from it. It is the greatest threat to our livelihood, a threat you cannot fight just by being powerful. That¡¯s why we had kept the majority of you in the dark until you¡¯re ready to face it.¡±
Marvel wasn¡¯t easily convinced, even though her respect for Solace had no bounds. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be easier if you taught me how to defend against it?¡± she questioned. ¡°I merely got in contact with it and I have already reached 48% mastery of it. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I knew more about it?¡±
¡°It would have,¡± Solace agreed. ¡°And I would have taught you about it soon, but you decided to sneak out on your own when I was busy with other matters.¡±
¡°That...¡± At least Marvel was embarrassed about her daring acts. ¡°I mean, why aren¡¯t we taught about Corruption in school? It seemed like something big that we should all be aware of.¡±
¡°Trust me,¡± ¡ªfor some reason, the elder spider seemed immensely old. Beaten. Lost¡ª ¡°knowing it doesn¡¯t make it any bit easier.¡±
¡°But¡ª¡±
Solace cut her short. ¡°You have seen nothing of it yet,¡± she transferred. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll let you see what we are dealing with. You can bring along your friend as well, though she must maintain her mental defence all the time.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Shai snapped with venom in her tongue, ¡°I won¡¯t even think of disabling my mental barrier.¡±
Like before, Solace was amused instead of offended, however, the image of the good granny was already destroyed in Shai¡¯s mind.
¡°Good, let¡¯s go then.¡±
The path was longer than Shai imagined. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t have to slither away like she always did. Marvel carried her as they swung away, using her webs, or scaling the wall downwards.
The elder spider was silent most of the time, as she was leading them, though it appeared Marvel knew the way. She mentioned something about a Nursery, where newly born spiders and the eggs were tended.
It was only when they reached the vicinity of the destination that the elder spider spoke to them. ¡°You have experienced corruption first-hand. What do you make of it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s madness,¡± Marvel said immediately. ¡°That lizard is not qualified to advance to Iron rank at all. It was so dull-headed, yet its empathic pulses were somehow so corrupting. Without the [Concept of Empathy] I would have never resisted it.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but Empathy makes you more vulnerable to it unless you know your way around it,¡± Solace said and turned a few of her eyes at Shai, who latched onto Marvel. ¡°And what about you?¡±
Shai thought of hissing indignantly, but with her mind clear, she decided against antagonising the elder spider, who might even be scarier than the White Death.
¡°It is an incomprehensible level of insanity,¡° Shai said, swallowing a breath. ¡°It is deranged, raving, and highly contagious, coming with the promise of power. The greed for power is almost impossible to resist unless you know what you¡¯re signing yourself into. There is no sense in it, only mindless devouring and scraping whatever comes your way...¡°Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Shai paused after a while, noticing she was repeating herself, just demeaning it more with each sentence.
¡°Hmm, looks like you had a deeper interaction with it than Little Marvel. Count yourself lucky that you came out sane.¡°
I did not, Shai thought, not entirely at least. However, she doubted how much of it was related to the corrupted Essence of the Feast.
¡°So, you two already know how grave of a danger corruption is to you,¡° Solace continued, nearing the chasm, which was apparently the Nursery. ¡°Now imagine what it can do to underdeveloped minds.¡°
Solace jumped into the chasm, shooting webs into the high wall. Marvel followed suit in a similar fashion. Shai felt an ethereal push against her being as they entered the nursery. She dismissed it, thinking it was some protective measure.
Shai¡¯s [Golden Eyes] blared immediately, as hundreds of white, orange, red, and black halos of aura appeared in her sight. A chilling sensation washed through her spine, discovering she was in the midst of thousands of spiders.
¡°Be careful not to have any spike in emotion,¡° Solace reminded them, eyeing them as both of their minds surged in turmoil. Of course, the emotions were of two different kinds.
Soon, lights came into their sights as they came across many carved crevices, decorated with intricate layers of spider webs. Dozens with hundreds of spider eggs stuck to them, others with baby spiders playing under the purview of older spiders.
¡°Solace,¡° Marvel said, her voice low and concerning. ¡°I didn¡¯t think there would be so many babies in the nursery.¡°
¡°Most of the fledglings aren¡¯t informed about the well-being of the babies,¡° Solace said as she led them to a specific location. ¡°Only those that reached a point of controlling their empathic power are allowed here.¡°
Marvel didn¡¯t have to ask why all this secrecy, because the reasons were evident in front of their eyes. The specific crevice Solace led them to had twenty baby spiders, no bigger than a few inches long, sleeping in a formation that vastly resembled the Grand Dream formation. A formation whose main function was rewiring the mind.
And why do newborn baby spiders need rewiring when their minds were mostly empty? Shai wouldn¡¯t bet on their inherited power of empathy. At least not completely.
¡°An unprotected mind with undeveloped empathic power is the biggest danger our clan used to face,¡± Solace explained, turning to Marvel. ¡°As you can imagine, it¡¯s easy to be affected by another person¡¯s emotion. Even another individual¡¯s uncontrolled emotions¡ªtake Shai¡¯s negative emotions, for example¡ªwould twist the minds of the babies within a few days of interaction. However, it was mere minutes, moments with the corruption.
¡°Even the Great Mother isn¡¯t powerful enough to block all influence of the Lord of the Feast.¡±
¡°Solace, they will be alright, right?¡±
¡°They are in a better state,¡± Solace said, and she sounded so sorrowful. ¡°A couple of weeks of nourishing sleep, and they could be sent to the next phase.¡±
¡°I went through this too?¡± Marvel couldn¡¯t help but ask. As with any other sapient being, her younger days were mostly forgotten. She might be able to recall them eventually when she had a higher grasp over her mental power, but clearly not now.
¡°Yes,¡± Solace said. ¡°Not just you. Midnight, Elegy, Serenity, every one of you after Silence¡¯s generation.
¡°It used to be a lot easier, you know. But all hell broke loose since your generation. We had plans. We thought we could resist for another decade, but all crumbled in two years.¡±
¡°Solace, there must be a way... You know, the Great Mother won¡¯t just leave us like this.¡±
¡°She did not.¡± The Elder spider only expressed an empathic pulse of sympathy. ¡°The only way is to evacuate, and that was what we decided.¡±
Marvel practically shook on her spot, as this was news for her. ¡°Evacuate? Where do we go? This is our home?¡±
¡°The Mother has commanded us to evacuate into the gate when they open.¡±
¡°But¡ª¡±
¡°It is decided,¡± Solace said. ¡°Evacuation in three days, and you are going to help me prepare for it. It is how I decided to discipline you. If you have complaints, you can always try the Hell Chasm, who knows you might become someone like Midnight, or rather Serenity.¡±
¡°Serenity?¡± Marvel cocked her head up. ¡°She was sent to Hell Chasm as well?¡±
¡°No, she just had a twisted idea of what is fun.¡±
¡°Hell Chasm is fun?¡±
¡°It depends on perspective, I guess,¡± the elder spider explained. ¡°Midnight was convicted to repent in the Hell Chasm for two weeks. At that time, Serenity followed around Midnight when she wasn¡¯t making any other mischief.¡±
¡°She even followed Midnight into the Hell Chasm?¡± Marvel couldn¡¯t believe it.
I expect nothing less from the spider mama, Shai thought inwardly. However, she had a hard time imagining anything fun about the Hell Chasm. All her instincts told her it was a place she should avoid at all costs... But then there was that promise of power.
¡°It¡¯s not really that bad of a training ground for the guardians, considering they had to deal with corrupted creatures on a daily basis,¡± Solace said.
Chapter 50 - Forgive Me, Mother!
Chapter 50 - Forgive Me, Mother!
Solace led them to where Marvel would be appointed to work. Considering she had no experience, she would observe the preceding of the second phase of treatment. It mostly involved studying the infant spiders¡¯ behaviour and spotting any signs of depravity in the babies.
Obviously, Marvel was unqualified for the job yet, so she would be assigned to shadow someone qualified to learn better. The small, little problem was that the qualified person didn¡¯t seem to want her.
¡°What is she doing here?¡± Elegy asked. Her response was curt, not radiating any empathic spark at all. And yet somehow she managed to sound condescending.
Marvel¡¯s eyes wavered, as she couldn¡¯t look up at her.
¡°Apologise now,¡± Shai conveyed privately, though she was uncertain if it was private with two elder spiders in proximity. The stare the other spider gave her was the very evidence of that.
¡°Elegy...¡± Marvel¡¯s telepathic pulses wavered as she transferred. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was very selfish of me to sneak out without permission. I¡¯ll never do it again.¡±
Elegy gave her a long look and turned to Solace. A tacit understanding was exchanged between the two spiders.
¡°Fine, consider yourself drafted,¡± Elegy said. ¡°But be aware this is not a place where you make a mistake. Lives are lost when you make a mistake.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±
¡°Of course you will, or I¡¯ll send you back to the chasm again.¡± Elegy turned her attention back to the spider babies playing inside the safe layers of webs. ¡°Now come in and learn. Your part won¡¯t be difficult. You just need to observe their empathic pulses.¡±
Marvel jumped to join Elegy, leaving Shai at the mercy of the elder arachnid.
¡°Now that¡¯s got out of the way,¡± Solace said, latching Shai to herself. ¡°What I am to do about you?¡±
¡°Sent me away out of the dungeon, providing me with a very detailed map?¡± Shai said, sounding more hopeful than she imagined herself to be.
Solace expressed an expression of amusement. ¡°That ship has sailed long ago, don¡¯t you think, Little Serpent?¡±
¡°What do spiders know about ships?¡± Shai hissed as the elder spider brought her along with herself, not trusting her at all to follow up.
¡°Ship?¡± Solace stared at her, contemplating as understanding dawned on her. She was terrifyingly quick to make a conjecture. ¡°A translating power. It even translates metaphor to your understanding. Fascinating.¡±
Shai¡¯s spine chilled. Perhaps she should stick to non-verbal terms if even a single comment from her gave the elder spider more idea about her special circumstances. Although spiders weren¡¯t the scholarly type, this one seemed to be in charge of all the inventions of their clan. Shai didn¡¯t want to be the subject of a fresh experiment.
¡°Am I that intimidating?¡± Solace asked.
Shai didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡±
¡°Definitely not somewhere to experiment on you,¡± the elder spider said with a crackled laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡±
¡°I told you to stop reading my mind!¡± Shai exclaimed indignantly.
¡°My bad old habit doesn¡¯t go away easily.¡± She didn¡¯t seem apologetic about it. ¡°Moreover, you mentioned not to manipulate your mind, nothing about reading.¡±
Shai hissed exasperatedly. Non-verbal terms were the only way for her to not be aggravated with this monster. She doesn¡¯t have Marvel¡¯s innocence at all.
¡°Goodbye, Shai,¡± Marvel¡¯s voice echoed in her mind abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later. Do not try anything funny with Solace. She¡¯s very understanding, but she is the Guardian of our Clan first.¡±
With that, Marvel cut off the telepathic link between them, making her feel alone and exposed.
¡°So, Shai is it?¡± Solace continued as she carried her away, climbing down. ¡°What do you think of this place?¡±
Shai was hesitant to reply, as spilling her beans always made it disadvantageous for her. In the end, she answered curtly, choosing every word carefully:
¡°Oddly improvised and advanced.¡±
Shai had noticed four kinds of formations laid in the nursery and only the elder spider knew how many more were there. Shai barely understood the function of two of the four she located. Apart from the Grand Dream, there were Gravity and weird force-field formations that seemed to block trespassers from entering the nursery. The fourth one seemed to have some aura-negating effect, but she wasn¡¯t sure.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
¡°For a hatchling of only a few weeks, you seem to know quite a lot about scripts.¡±
Shai hissed.
¡°Why is it odd?¡± the spider asked.
¡°Well, apologies if my words offend you, but we don¡¯t see terrifying eight-legged ¡ arachnids living civilly inside a dungeon,¡± Shai answered truthfully. She was pretty sure the spider could judge whether she was speaking the truth. Better to play it safe than accidentally spilling out about her special circumstances.
¡°You seem to have a greater knowledge of the civilization,¡± Solace didn¡¯t let go of the topic. Even though her tone was elderly like a good grandma, Shai couldn¡¯t help but feel she was being interrogated. ¡°And scripts too. Inherited knowledge, I suppose?¡±
¡°I barely know anything.¡± If Shai wasn¡¯t a reptile, she would be sweating cold. Would the spider granny take offence if she learned Shai had stolen her scripts?
¡°You definitely know more than more than Marvel, perhaps even the guardians,¡± Solace said. ¡°I swear none of them want to learn anything related to scripts. All they want is to play and hunt. But I suppose they have no other choice. Spellforging takes years to master, even for a genius.¡±
Shai said nothing for a while, as the spider brought her out of the nursery. It wasn¡¯t the way they came, but deeper into the chasm somewhere.
¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Shai asked again, unable to stop the dread from welling up.
Solace didn¡¯t answer and faltered on the path, her eyes darting everywhere. Giving her no answer, she changed direction and swung away, shooting a web for support. It didn¡¯t take long for Shai to figure out something was wrong. Some powerful creature was messing around nearby, enough to create ripples even hundreds of metres away.
Shai barely picked up the unrest in energy flow from a couple of hundred metres away, but Solace had changed her direction two whole minutes ago. That was a couple of miles away, easily.
It wasn¡¯t just one creature that was making the mess, but an entire pack of them, radiating high auras of copper and iron ranks, wrecking against a force field that blocked their way into the founding. But more importantly, it was all spiders, gigantic arachnids over two metres tall with jagged appendages, their mandibles opening in high-pitched screeches.
Solace dropped behind them, her figure towering over even the tallest spider. Solace¡¯s body language changed completely. No more amusement could be seen in her aura, losing all pretence of the good grandma. A chilly coldness oozed out of her and assaulted them all.
¡°STOP!¡± She commanded.
They all stopped as if Solace¡¯s voice charmed them into compulsion.
¡°GO BACK,¡± She commanded again. ¡°This isn¡¯t your place.¡±
One by one, the spiders crept away from there, scaling the wall. Their pace was rigid, but all of them heeded Solace¡¯s command. Shai finally came out of her transfixion to recognise these were the erratic male kinds of the spider clan.
After the departure of the male counterparts, Solace didn¡¯t just leave. Instead, she moved near the formation and started mending the damage they caused to the defensive formation.
¡°What will happen to those spiders?¡± Shai heard herself ask.
¡°What do you think?¡± Solace didn¡¯t stop her Spellforging as she answered. ¡°They will slowly¡ª¡±
¡°LOOK OUT!¡± Shai screamed, her [Predatory Instinct] blaring, even though she had no clue why.
Solace spun, her eyes finding another spider of a similar size immediately. It launched itself from above, prepared to go all the way. A burst of force surged through the elder spider as she sent the assailant hurtling through the air to crash into the other side of the wall.
It all happened so fast that Shai couldn¡¯t catch anything. However, the confrontation was merely beginning. A simple crash wouldn¡¯t kill the tenacious arachnid.
A familiar dark power oozed out from where the assailant spider crashed. It rose again and came hurtling towards them, malicious and corrupted essence permeating the air. Sadly, the corrupted spider was dealing with one of the scariest beings of the spider clan.
The assailant froze ten paces away, its appendages shooting rigidly, yet unable to move even a single inch.
Shai finally had a full view of their assailant. It was a spider alright, but nothing like the one she saw before. Other than eight long appendages sharp enough to dig a hole in a wall, it had a humanoid upper body. A face with multiple pairs of eyes, ashen skin, monstrous with sharp, jagged teeth. Its disjointed jaw opened in a bone-chilling growl, cold eyes staring venomously.
Solace¡¯s demeanour softened as she stared at the spider suspended in the air.
¡°BE CALM, Grim!¡± She commanded. ¡°Calm!¡±
The spider with a humanoid upper body growled a few times but eventually calmed down.
¡°Mother,¡± it spoke, its voice still growling. ¡°Mother! Forgive! Forgive me! Mother!¡±
[Grim - Arachne Arachnid Lvl 113], told Shai¡¯s Golden Eyes.
Solace stared at it with all her eight eyes, her demeanour solemn, sorrowful. The very air of her shifted to something greater, something powerful, irreproachable.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Child.¡±
An invisible spike of annihilating mind wave shot off her and plunged into the cursed humanoid spider¡¯s mind, stirring it all around, yet it was unable to struggle, frozen in place.
¡°MOTHEEERR!¡±
It dropped dead. No visible signs of wounds could be seen on its body or soul. And as for his mind, it existed no more. Well, that was what happened when one died; however, its mind was ripped out of existence before it died.
The silence extended, even though it felt like no moment passed. The air shifted back to normal. Well, normal was pretty screwed in this dungeon.
¡°Every time I do it, it feels like I¡¯m ripping a part of myself,¡± Solace said, her demeanour returning, though not her usual self.
¡°What happens to the other spiders you let live?¡± Shai asked, sucking in a frigid breath. An experience like this wasn¡¯t something you come across every day. Who she was kidding, she never came across something like this.
¡°They will go to their designated area outside our dwelling,¡± Solace said monotonously. ¡°Hopefully, they will hunt down several cursed creatures, making it easier for the guardians. And will eventually fall into the same fate as Grim here.¡±
Solace crept near Grim, the dead half-humanoid spider. Essence surged out of her body and pulled the corpse into herself as it vanished in the naked eye.
Did the elder spider store the creature away somewhere? Inventory? Did she have access to them?
¡°Come on,¡± Solace said, ¡°the guardians are busy tending to others. I have to play their role for today.¡±
With that, Solace flew away, taking Shai with her to hunt.
Chapter 51 - The Paths
Shai clutched her narrow form tighter, strangling around a copper-ranked lizard, her fangs injecting deadly poison into its neck. The corrupted creature only possessed higher physical prowess and remarkable recovery attributes. Shai had tussled with it for a while to tire it before she finally made her ultimate move.
With the venom taking effect, it could barely struggle against her. She would just need to carry on strangling it for a little more.
After feeling no resistance from the reptile, Shai let go, hissing frantically. She slithered across from its body to come in face to face with the dying creature, waiting for Grandpa to voice out the good news.
It took longer than Shai imagined. By the time Grandpa announced its demise, Shai was ready for her reward, getting into a meditative state.
[You have slain a Skink (Copper) - Twisted Infantile Level 33.]
[You have achieved two small breakthroughs. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 25. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]
[Congratulations! You have reached the first hurdle of the Way.]
[You have reached the step of the Way within four weeks of your birth. You have gained the Mark of Wayseeker.]
[You have completed the first step of the quest: Advancement I. You can access the rewards anytime.]
[Next step of the quest: Advancement II is available to you.]
Shai was unable to keep her focus on the voice, as a deep source of power blossomed within her, surging through her very core, wrenching the most livid hiss out of her. Even while gaining levels, or other marks, she hadn¡¯t gained the sheer amount of essence.
Then again, it wasn¡¯t completely essence. Something else was there, changing her through the very bones and spirit, adding something to her path. A new mark to her strength, a part that would always be hers, and hers alone.
It was as if someone was writing on her entire body with a damnable flame-nibbed pen at that. Shai was unaware of how long it was, but steadily her power rose, and her pool of energy widened to accommodate more essence. Even her body grew as the energy transformed into an ethereal ectoplasm combined with herself, expanding her size by almost a couple more feet.
The pain slowly wafted off from her being, leaving only mild soreness and an overwhelming sense of intoxication over the power she just gained.
Wait, I haven¡¯t checked what I gained.
Whoa, 10 whole points! Shai¡¯s eyes swelled in delight, though it was only for the primary attributes. The other title thrilled her even more.
[Wayseeker (Novice): You have comprehended a concept and reached the first step of the Way.
+5% to all Primary Attributes.]
That 5% boost barely gave only about 2 points and something more to an attribute now, but it would be a lot more when her numbers were higher. It was a numbers game all along, and she barely started winning in it.
Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Shai quickly checked her surroundings for the elder spider.
Solace had many places to be, and some were too dangerous to bring along baggage. So when Shai asked to let her go to hunt on her own, Solace agreed with no complaint, though she put some kind of empathic brand on her. Shai could barely detect it with the help of [Golden Eyes], but it would supposedly tell Solace of her position. The elder spider sounded as if she was doing her a favour, as it could save her life if she was in any danger.
Shai couldn¡¯t even flee even if she attempted. Of course, the elder spider¡¯s warning could all be a hoax to frighten her into staying, but she didn¡¯t really need to go that far, considering what she saw of her. Solace literally killed an Iron-ranked kin with her mind. There could be so many insidious tricks Shai wasn¡¯t aware of. No need to take chances for now.
Regardless, Shai¡¯s rewards didn¡¯t end with the mark. There was another reward for completing the Advancement quest: insight into the paths. That was bound to hit hard. No, literally, it would definitely hit hard on her mind, no matter how much her Mind had grown.
Along with that, she also received another quest, which seemed suspiciously important, even though it seemed fairly easy. The reward was almost a freebie, like [Wayseeker].
[Quest: Advancement II - Perfect Advancement
Only one among a hundred can achieve the perfect advancement to Copper rank.
Requirements: 50+ points in all Primary attributes before advancement.
Reward: Peerless Foundation.]
With 16 unallocated points stored, Shai could complete this quest right now, but she feared this might trigger something¡ might possibly be her Advancement to Copper. It was better to be prudent. She would rather glimpse into the insight first, and then ask Marvel about her advancement.
I wonder what the reward is, though. Peerless Foundation just can¡¯t do something like the containment she received on her very first quest. Thoughts for later.
There was still the Apex Predator Quest to complete. In the last couple of hours, she had hunted down two, which left three more. It didn¡¯t seem difficult at all anymore.
Making sure the area was clear, Shai looted the Skink into her Inventory and all the other smaller counterparts she had left on a trail. Her eyes searched for a place where she could cash in her hard-earned insight.
Insight into the Paths. Would it lay bare all the secrets of advancement to her? Shai couldn¡¯t wait to find out. After securing herself safely in a crevice on the wall, Shai prepared herself, reaching into a sublime meditative state.
Okay, gramps, you can begin now.
Shai prepared her mind for the influx of information. Even when she was prepared, she let out a painful hiss as the pain stuck her, along with the flood of information. There was no end to it.
Within a moment, Shai found herself amid a grand interwoven string, a lot like the empathic spider¡¯s webs, but far more ethereal and majestic. Each one of the strings represented a path. Most of them weren¡¯t available for her, but Shai would knock herself out countless times, even if she were to interpret the strings available for her.Stolen story; please report.
Thankfully, Grandpa coloured the ones free for her in golden, so she wouldn¡¯t have to waste time with the barred paths.
There were so many paths, though, weaving in endless interwoven webs, each one leading to a path she could take. Some of them were even so far away that she had no way of reaching. Some branched out into different paths, while others joined with others to form a new path at the next advancement.
Heart filled with anticipation, Shai touched the very first web closest to her as information about the path came to her mind.
[Ambitious Fledgeling: Uncommon
This path is for those who possess a burning ambition to rise to greatness. Ambitious Fledgelings are driven by their aspirations, dreams, and a thirst for power or knowledge. They exhibit a combination of innocence, curiosity, and persistence as they strive to make their mark on the world.
Requirements: 25+ All Primary attributes
Speciality:
+2 Physique, +2 Spirit, +3 Mind, +1 Recovery, +2 Free Attribute Points per Level.
+8 in All Special Attributes on Advancement.
Boosted Mastery of All Essence-Related Skills.]
Whoa, Ambitious Fledgeling, Shai mused, this doesn¡¯t sound bad. The only problem was that it didn¡¯t have any speciality.
This path was pretty straightforward, even she could see just by glimpsing at the string. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t her only option. There were literally dozens of options laid bare before her eyes. All she needed was to find the right one within the time limit.
Crap, the time limit. How did I forget about that? Grandpa gave no specific time limit for her to choose a path. However, that didn¡¯t mean she could examine all the paths indefinitely. Even if she had the desire to do it, her Mind couldn¡¯t endure it.
The path [Ambitious Fledgeling] intertwined with many other strings far ahead, so for the next turn, Shai chose a relatively free string, only intertwined with a few other webs.
[Baleful Viper: Elite
The Baleful Viper is the ultimate hunter. They thrive on the thrill of the hunt and excel in eliminating targets with brutal precision. These predators have high agility, keen senses, and the ability to seamlessly blend into their surroundings. Whether in pursuit of dangerous monsters or cunning foes, they are masters of the art of the hunt.
Requirements: 25+ Points in All Primary Attributes. Mark of the Predator.
Speciality:
+4 Physique, +4 Spirit, +2 Mind, +2 Recovery, +2 Free Attribute Points per Level.
+12 Evolution, +8 Insight, +8 Fortune on Advancement.
Stealth-Related Ability.
Baleful Poisonous Aura.
Boosted Mastery in All Combat-Related Skills and Abilities.]
This one is so much better, though only related to combat. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s more there.
One by one, Shai singled out the more specialised paths and reached for their web string. More information about those paths came to her mind. Each of them was related to some of her traits, be it the Mark, abilities, skills, or the Concept.
[Mystic Adder (Novice): Elite*
Requirements: 50 Mind, 50 Spirit. Spellforging (D)
Speciality:
+2 Physique, +6 Spirit, +6 Mind, +4 Recovery, +3 Free Attribute Points per Level.
+16 Evolution, +16 Insight, +12 Fortune on Advancement.
+30% Effectivity to Mind and Perception.
Boosted Mastery in Crafting and Spellforging-Related Abilities and Skills.
P.S: This path is completely unique to your species.]
Elite paths are different beasts altogether, Shai concluded. Unfortunately, elite paths are extremely rare as well.
[Tainted Bane: Elite]
Requirement: Hunger.
Speciality¡
Wait, what the hell is this here, Grandpa? She cursed and ignored it completely. Nothing could tempt her into this path. Not after what she had seen, and experienced.
[Dungeon Constrictor: Uncommon]
[Snake Supreme: Uncommon]
[Kin Devourer: Uncommon]
[Artful Garter: Uncommon]
[Mystic Wyrm: Uncommon]
[Way Dreamer Serpent: Uncommon]
An impaling pain stabbed into Shai¡¯s mind as she carried on with the paths. Most of these offered similar benefits according to their rank and speciality. However, none of them interested her as much as [Mystic Adder (Novice)] did.
Shai wanted a specialised path, but not those types of specialisations. Honestly, [Mystic Wyrm] and [Way Dreamer Serpent] seemed more interesting, where the former was all-rounded and the latter more studious. But they didn¡¯t have the same reach in specialisation as an Elite path.
After some deliberation, Shai ignored all paths but the Elite ones. She was only given a few of them, not that she was aware she would meet all their requirements.
[Serpent of Avarice: Elite
Born of hunger, they devour.
This path embodies your insatiable hunger for power. With the Concept of Hunger at its core, the Serpent of Avarice is driven by an overwhelming desire for everything.
Requirements: 200+ points in total primary attribute points. [Concept of Hunger]
Speciality:
+6 Physique, +6 Spirit, +2 Mind, +4 Recovery, +3 Free Attribute Points per Level.
+24 Will, +12 Insight, +12 Fortune on Advancement.
+50% Effectivity in Digestion and Growth.
+50% in Regeneration.
Boosted Mastery of Hunger-Related Abilities.]
The next one was actually a burning white string.
[Divine Touched: Sacred
Path of the divine chosen.
Requirements: Touched by Divinity.
Speciality:
+6 to all Primary attributes, +25 Free Secondary Points per Level.
+24 Will, +24 Insight, +24 Fortune on Advancement.
+20% Effectivity in All Attributes.
+20% Effectivity in All Skills and Abilities.
Blessing.
Boosted Mastery in All Skills and Abilities.]
Shai momentarily paused as she came to this path. Was it related to the blessing of Kismet? That seemed more like it, and by far, this was the best path, even though it lacked a specific speciality.
Even still, Shai checked on the remaining two elite paths.
[Infant Naga: Elite
A mythic race of serpentine creatures. Nagas have a serpentine lower body and a humanoid upper body. They can be both benevolent and malevolent, though they tend to be the latter more often. They are associated with water, fertility, fortune, and protection.
Requirements: 200+ points in total primary attribute points. A Concept. Sapience.
Speciality:
+4 to all Primary attributes, +4 Free Secondary Points per Level.
+24 Will, +12 Insight, +12 Fortune on Advancement.
Boost in Poison Affinity.
Boosted Mastery in All Skills and Abilities.]
A snake with a human head? Immediately, a figure of such a form appeared in Shai¡¯s mind. It had her humanoid upper body with two arms, but the lower body was in her current serpentine form.
Shai¡¯s mouth remained hung open for several seconds, almost forgetting the prickling pain in her mind. A deep surge of wrongness washed over her, as in no way or form she would like to become something like this.
No way!
Imagine crawling around in a dark, deranged place with a human upper body. Thank Grandpa, for your concern, but this isn¡¯t for me.
Well, that concluded all possible paths for her, and she had managed to survive with her sanity intact. Now all Shai needed was¡ª
It wasn¡¯t the last viable choice, actually. There was another burning white string available in the chaotic mess of the strings. The only problem was that it was woven amid almost all the other paths¡¯ strings. So, not a specialised one?
Although it hurt to even look at it, Shai pulled herself together to check it. The previous golden string was sacred. She couldn¡¯t wait to see if any other great deity was interested in her.
[Eye of the Crusaders: Sacred]
Her eyes swelled with desire as she checked the class. She was literally awestruck, looking at the requirements. It was the only path whose requirement she didn¡¯t meet, but accessible to her because of her A-rank aspect [Golden Eyes]
Shai¡¯s mind whirled in excruciating pain, bringing her to the verge of losing consciousness. Yet she held on, etching every detail of the class into her mind.
¡°Aye, Little Snake, you¡¯re feeling alright?¡± A voice interrupted her thoughts abruptly, as Shai let go. ¡°I¡¯m getting a terrible pull in the brand I left you with. Do you need help?¡±
Shai didn¡¯t even hear the elder spider clearly as she lost consciousness.
Knowledge does take a heavy toll on the chosen.
Chapter 52 - Miss Snake
¡°It¡¯s like a rope,¡± said a young, childish voice as Shai¡¯s mind hovered between drowsiness and wakefulness. ¡°Aren¡¯t snakes supposed to be yaaaay~ big?¡±
¡°Haven, you¡¯re so stupid,¡± another childish voice retorted.
Shai stirred, a numbing pain throbbing in her tiny head.
¡°It moved,¡± the first voice said. ¡°It moved, Sanctity!¡±
¡°Shut your empathy... I¡¯m going to get berated because of you¡ª¡±
Shai lurched up, sensing the movement and commotion. She let out a ferocious hiss, feeling weight down on her head, causing the pristine white spider to leap backwards. Thankfully, she wasn¡¯t confined, nor did she find anything amiss with her surroundings, except for the metallic mask covering her head.
It didn¡¯t hinder her sight, or make her feel uncomfortable. The only issue was that she was unable to remove it from her head. The runes engraved in the mask shimmered as she tried to break. Upon closer inspection, she identified an isolation script and scripts akin to the grand dream formation. There could be a whole lot more she couldn¡¯t understand.
¡°Sanctity, it¡¯s going to eat us,¡± the timid spider stammered, retreating a few steps.
She ignored their concern and inspected the thing on her head. The information she got through [Golden Eyes] helped quench her desperate need to get rid of it.
[Veil of Empathy (Elite):
Invented by the delicate hands of a Master Forger, the Veil of Empathy shuts all the wearer¡¯s empathic pulses from emitting. The mask also captures outward empathic waves and interprets them to the wearer¡¯s understanding.
Enchantment:
Empatic Veil +5.
Telepath +4.
Stealth +2.]
Did someone¡ªlikely the spider granny¡ªcovered this mask on her head so that her negative empathic waves wouldn¡¯t wantonly affect fledgeling spiders?
Thankfully, [Golden Eyes] got her a way to unlatch the metallic mask off her head, though she didn¡¯t remove it, considering it for a moment.
She heard two voices of empathic spiders ... Shai wouldn¡¯t want them to act strange in her presence. She searched around but found only the diminutive spider, barely three feet tall.
¡°Sanctity, it¡¯s looking at us!¡± the [Veil of Empathy] helped her interpret what they said.
Strangely, the spider was double-headed, and from what she gathered, each head seemed to have their own consciousness.
Sanctity bolted forward. Midway through her leap, she shot a blob of web that landed on the other head to her left.
¡°Excuse us, Miss... snake?¡± the fledgeling spider said. ¡°Sorry, I forgot your name, Miss Snake.¡±
Shai said nothing, her eyes gleamed in a golden shimmer as she assessed them.
[Sanctity - Empathic Fledgeling Lvl 17.]
[Haven - Empathic Fledgeling Lvl 17.]
So they were separate entities, but born this way? She kept these thoughts to herself, concerned it might upset them.
¡°That¡¯s because Sanctity wasn¡¯t paying attention when Marvel instructed her,¡± added Haven, clearing the web from her face. She actually ate it... It seemed they couldn¡¯t control the body simultaneously.
¡°Ahem!¡± Sanctity, the right head, emitted an empathic vibration, which couldn¡¯t be anything but the arachnid equivalent of an awkward cough. ¡°I was asked to mend Miss Snake¡¯s mind from any residual sting. Unfortunately, Haven woke up and disturbed your sleep.¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t pin all the blame on me,¡± Haven protested, gaining confidence as the snake showed no intent to devour them. ¡°You just couldn¡¯t do your job, Stupid Sanctity.¡±
Shai narrowed her eyes, unsure of how to respond.
¡°You said Marvel asked you to do this?¡± she asked, finally.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
¡°Yes,¡± Sanctity replied, while the other head chimed in, ¡°Marvel was soooo~ bossy, thinks she can push me around... If only not for stupid Sanctity¡ª¡±
¡°Oh yeah, did I catch that correctly?¡± A new voice intruded into their conversation as Marvel landed on their rear. ¡°Little Haven?¡±
The four pairs of Haven¡¯s eyes flashed in red, and she clattered her mandibles together. ¡°Marvel, I...¡±
¡°Did you wait for the dramatic moment to show yourself?¡± Shai asked, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. She hated to admit it, but the mask made it easier for her to exchange the minute tone of sarcasm.
Marvel returned her gaze, but chose not to respond directly. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted from overworking,¡± she said. Turning to the spider duo, she added, ¡°Little fledglings like you cannot even begin to understand the efforts I make on your behalf.¡±
At this, both Sanctity and Haven¡¯s mandibles clattered, producing a crackling sound. They were intelligent enough to keep their jokes to themselves.
¡°Overlooking my sacrifices,¡± Marvel turned back to Shai, somewhat amused. ¡°You¡¯re awake now... The mask looks good on you¡¡±
Shai hissed, clearly not finding it funny.
¡°It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t rush into your advancement right after reaching Lvl 25.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°There are numerous complications, I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Marvel continued briskly. ¡°For now, we need to move. You¡¯ve been summoned.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Shai blurted out. ¡°By whom?¡±
Although she had an inkling about the answer, Marvel¡¯s response confirmed her suspicions. ¡°By Solace, of course.¡±
¡°Now what she wants from me?¡± Shai mumbled, not really a question, but Marvel was happy to give an answer.
¡°She¡¯ll likely offer guidance on your advancement. Don¡¯t underestimate her advice. Few are as knowledgeable as Solace on this subject.¡±
Shai didn¡¯t doubt Marvel¡¯s claim, yet she couldn¡¯t help but let out a hesitant hiss. She was skeptical to believe the spider granny would help her out of goodwill. There was probably a catch.
Nonetheless, she conceded that hearing Solace out might be the right choice. After all, her options were limited.
Turning to the young spider duo, Marvel said, ¡°And you two are coming as well. No dawdling. You need to prepare for the evacuation.¡±
¡°Already?¡± asked Sanctity, her tone laden with resignation.
¡°The gate opens tonight for a brief period. Would you have us miss our window?¡±
Shai was still unfamiliar with the intricacies of the spider clan, but from the look of how Marvel was behaving, it was apparent that the elder spiders had managed to rope in the little rebellious spider into their ranks. All it took was letting Marvel in on the serious business. After all, that was all Marvel ever wanted.
She seemed stress out, but glad to be of some help.
It didn¡¯t take long for them to reacquaint themselves with the elder spider, as the place where Shai was given to rest wasn¡¯t far from the main structure of their dwellings. After leaving the fledgeling duo in the care of Serenity, only the two of them remained in the presence of the spider granny.
¡°There are about six hours left until the gates open,¡± Solace said. She wasn''t looking at them, but there was no mistaking that her words were directed at them. ¡°Before all the chaos and madness that ran amok in our home, occasions such as this were considered a pilgrimage... Many of your elder sisters found their way on the journey through the inner realm... However, the situation is far more insidious this time. I cannot foresee a path where we wouldn¡¯t face some form of threat...¡±
Shai exchanged a look with Marvel, who had been unnervingly silent the entire way.
¡°Regardless of matters not in our control, we need to address the problems at hand,¡± Solace finally said, her eyes shining bright crimson. ¡°That brings you two here.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do whatever Solace asks,¡± Marvel declared curtly, showing her complete approval and acceptance.
Shai was inclined to hear more.
¡°It has been a year since any of us entered the inner realm,¡± Solace continued in her solemn tone. ¡°There wasn¡¯t a great supply of sustenance in the first place, and I fear much has changed since then. So before we enter, you two have to solve the problem of food for all the fledglings.¡±
¡°What?!¡± Shai couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. ¡°Why are you pulling me into this?¡±
¡°Why, indeed... I wouldn¡¯t have summoned such a distrustful reptile if I had other options,¡± Solace said in a softer tone, all pairs of her eyes boring into the little snake. ¡°But I know for a fact that Little Shai won¡¯t succumb to corruption. That clears one of the two criteria for this task.¡±
Shai hissed indignantly. ¡°What is the other?¡±
¡°Someone with the ability to transport a great load of rations,¡± the elder spider said, her tone amused. ¡°I hear you have spatial storage ability?¡±
Even though she phrased it as a question, it was evident that Solace already knew another of her secrets. Shai only had one spider to blame for that. She turned and glared at Marvel, who avoided her gaze as though this had nothing to do with her.
Could the elder spider have discovered her inventory without Marvel¡¯s help? Shai wondered. Marvel had described her ability as something related to the Concept of Dimension, but the smug elder spider likely knew much more about it.
¡°Of course, I¡¯m not asking you to do this for free.¡± Solace lifted her front appendage, and a sphere of golden lustre manifested upon it. The golden light dimmed to reveal an oval-shaped fruit. ¡°You know what this is, right?¡±
Shai didn¡¯t know, but as her [Golden Eyes] assessed the fruit, hunger surged through her core.
[Mandate Fruit (Light):
Mandate fruits are manifestations of the Way. Ingesting a Mandate fruit helps an aspirant condense the law contained within the fruit. This particular fruit contains the concept of Light.]
While Shai¡¯s greed resurfaced, Marvel asked apprehensively, ¡°A Mandate fruit? I only received one in my entire life... but why the concept of light? Wouldn¡¯t something like toxin related be more in harmony with Shai¡¯s characteristics?¡±
¡°Light, because your friend need not be as blind as you, Little Marvel.¡±
Marvel clearly disliked the remark, but Shai¡¯s attention was glued to the Mandate fruit as she salivated uncontrollably. The carrot presented by the elder spider was simply too enticing to be missed, even if she feared the stick that would follow.
After all, one of the prerequisites for the [Eye of the Crusader] was the Concept of Light.
____________
Chapter 53 - Upgrade (1)
Shai¡¯s initial reaction to the assignment was apprehension. She feared she would need to hunt down a substantial number of creatures for the empathic spider fledglings to eat. However, she quickly realized that the corpses of tainted creatures were not exactly suitable nourishment for the fledglings.
Needless to say, corruption was poison to the fledgling spiders who could not control their empathic nature.
¡°So, how much food do we need to bring in?¡± Shai inquired as Marvel carried her toward the cultivation field.
The empathic spiders primarily cultivated various types of mushrooms, which didn¡¯t require sunlight and grew mostly on decomposed corpses. They had to put all the corrupted creatures somewhere, after all. Why not put it to good use in cultivating their sustenance?
Previously, there had been five mushroom fields, but due to maintenance issues and attacks from the corruption, only three fields remained in full capacity. By "field," she meant pits layered with complicated script formations to make it possible for the mushrooms to grow.
Shai felt disheartened when she realized they wouldn¡¯t be able to completely harvest even one field with the limited time they had¡ And from what she had discerned from the spiders, it appeared they were planning to leave this place for good. None of them spoke it out loud, but she could detect it.
Since they would be leaving most of it, Shai decided she would keep an inventory full of those delectable mushrooms for herself alone. I¡¯ll see to it if anyone complains¡
Suddenly, a loud screech echoed through the air, causing Shai to shift her position atop Marvel to locate the source. More growls and screeches soon followed. The noise was coming from the direction they were heading.
¡°Crap, the protective wards are broken,¡± her ride said, accelerating to her maximum speed. She leapt from one side of the stone wall to the other, swinging on her webs if she had to. ¡°If there are any iron-ranked creatures, we might have to go back and call one of the guardians.¡±
True, they had hunted an Iron-ranked creature together, but it had been a struggle of hours, using various means which weren¡¯t available to them. Not to mention, the task had left them exhausted and afflicted with various afflictions.
Marvel¡¯s anxiety was palpable, evident through the empathic waves, as returning for assistance would waste more of their precious time. Shai refrained from offering encouragement, still unfamiliar with the full extent of their predicament. Moreover, her heart lurched, judging that the location they were headed was not unfamiliar to her.
Apparently, it was exactly the mushroom cultivation pit she had stumbled upon before. She had looted a great load of mushrooms from here, which had practically saved her life more than once, be it in cushioning a fall of two hundred metres or restoring her from physical stress when needed.
The problem was that, to hide the evidence of her thievery from the empathic spiders, Shai had damaged some part of the script formations and left corpses of a few corrupt creatures... It had worked brilliantly, as none of the spiders had put a finger of blame in her direction... yet...
Shai hissed. But there was no protection when I entered...
And she had only damaged the formation a little, and she had only been a little snake... Those corrupt creatures could do a lot worse than her.
As they neared the pit, Shai¡¯s eyes emitted a golden shimmer. The reach of [Golden Eyes] was beyond her. She could see the halos of the corrupted creatures nonchalantly feasting on the mushrooms with not a care in the world. Thankfully, none exhibited the distinctive, deep orange aura of an iron rank, though she did catch the sight of a few deep red halos, which set them apart from the rest.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Shai sighed with relief and relayed to Marvel, ¡°No need to call the guardians, there are no iron-ranked creatures here. The highest among them seems to be a lizard called [Corrupt Inix Lvl 44].¡±
Confident in her abilities, Shai believed she could handle a Level 44 creature on her own. Especially after her recent encounters and enhancements. Marvel, too, was not to be underestimated. Her level had risen to 38, and subtle shifts in her aura suggested she had grown significantly stronger recently.
Marvel emitted an empathic echo of relief. ¡°Wait, how can you tell that?¡± she asked, caught between disbelief and surprise. ¡°There are dozens of creatures; inspecting each one would take at least¡ª¡±
¡°Let¡¯s talk about this later,¡± Shai interrupted. ¡°After we finish this assignment. For now, just know that I can see more than you.¡±
Her eyes shimmered in brilliant golden light, emphasizing the fact.
¡°Wow, your eyes¡ª¡± Marvel began, then abruptly turned her attention back to the creatures. ¡°There are a lot of them, though.¡±
¡°Why, are you nervous?¡± Shai asked smugly, dismounting from Marvel¡¯s back.
Marvel emitted a wave of contempt. ¡°I¡¯m only worried about the little Lvl 25 Hatchling.¡±
Shai hissed as if disgusted. ¡°I¡¯ll show you who¡¯s little, Lil¡¯ Marv...¡±
With that, she charged toward a Lvl 28 Twisted Chilopod¡ªa familiar enemy that she had comprehensive experience dealing with. Shai formed a venom-free, but potent [Arcane Shot] as she advanced. The oblivious creature was devouring the mushrooms, unaware of the predator aiming for its neck.
Wait, do centipedes have necks?
The question didn¡¯t deter Shai from launching the [Arcane Shot]. A semi-transparent bolt of essence tinged with a golden shimmer released from her mouth and whispered through the air to plunge deep into the creature¡¯s first body segment.
The chilopod reared up, screeching in agony. Wishing to end its suffering quickly, Shai augmented her body with [Empower] and struck into the hole created by her attack. Disgusting blood gushed into her mouth, which she ignored in a practised manner as she dug further. She pierced through its stem, severing the head¡¯s functions from the rest of the body.
To put a cherry on top, she shot another [Arcane Shot], as the recoil force jerked her out from the creature¡¯s body. I¡¯m practically a low-capacity machine gun¡
The familiar notification of the creature¡¯s demise popped up. Shai ignored it and glanced towards Marvel. The empathic spider had already immobilized three of her foes with webs and was dispatching them one by one with ease. She clearly didn¡¯t need Shai¡¯s help.
Even though the hunt had begun, most of the tainted creatures were still gorging themselves on mushrooms... and when they fought back, it was driven by their insanity and bloodthirstiness.
Shai wasn¡¯t complaining. In fact, this made things easier for them. As long as the creatures remained distracted by the devilishly delicious mushrooms, they wouldn¡¯t be able to overwhelm them with numbers.
She gulped down a couple of those mushrooms and set her sights on her next opponent, a low copper rank like the last one. Two more copper creatures to upgrade her [Predator] mark¡ Shai hadn¡¯t forgotten that. There was no point in wasting her stamina on the toughest opponent yet.
Her new opponent¡ªa Corrupt Chilopod Lvl 28¡ªseemed aware of her presence and dodged her attack, utilizing dozens of its appendages effectively. It wasn¡¯t any more powerful than her last opponent, but being aware of the threat gave it some ability to contend with Shai. No doubt, it was agile, but it erred to believe it stood a chance against her.
Shai prowled the creature. She feinted a bite and struck with an [Arcane Shot] at point-blank range. She missed the body segment by only a few inches, but thankfully, her [Arcane Shot] was powerful enough to pierce its tough exoskeleton.
The monstrous centipede let out a guttural screech and lunged at her. If Shai had hands, she would have welcomed it with open arms. Instead, she snapped her tail and lunged forward, aiming for its right eye.
[Empower] was active throughout the fight. The skill toughened her body enough that she didn¡¯t have to worry about any initial attack striking her. However, she still avoided a direct blow from the creature, manoeuvring her way to target its eye.
She finished it off with another [Arcane Shot]. Using two [Arcane Shots] on a low copper rank creature seemed like a reasonable trade, considering her essence pool allowed her to fire a couple dozen of those shots and still be left with a little essence to escape danger safely.
Shai had barely extracted herself from the creature when another attacked her from behind, breaking her [Empower]. A reptile with a horned head, a meter tall and over a couple of metres long, a kind of lizard creature she hadn¡¯t encountered before. And it wasn¡¯t alone.
[Horned Anole ¨C Corrupt Inix Lvl 35.]
[Horned Anole ¨C Corrupt Inix Lvl 29.]
[Horned Anole ¨C Corrupt Inix Lvl 39.]
[Horned Anole ¨C Corrupt Inix Chief Lvl 44.]
Chapter 54 - Upgrade (2)
Shai shot an [Arcane Shot] at the weakest Corrupt Inix, but before she could revel at her aim, her instinct screamed. She twisted her narrow form, avoiding the lunge of another one by a hair. The largest of them appeared to be the ringleader of this four-reptile crew. Not only was it controlling the other anoles somehow, but it had also managed to form a rudimentary, bestial battle strategy, which was basically overwhelming her with their numbers.
Re-establishing all her battle skills, Shai examined her opponent with [Golden Eyes] to look for any weak points. The horned anoles hardly possessed a tough exoskeleton like the monstrous centipedes, nor were they as fast on their feet, though they were devilishly sharp. However, none of that mattered, as their weakness was thoroughly apparent.
The anoles had a floppy dewlap under their long necks, which they could extend and retract at will. They hadn¡¯t extended the loose skin during the battle, as it would hinder their movement and put an easy target on their backs¡ªbut that didn¡¯t stop her from targeting the relatively fragile dewlaps of the anoles.
Her [Arcane Shots] bit through the floppy skin, causing the reptile to throw a fit of rage. Shai planned on carrying out a couple more attacks to finish it off. Unfortunately, a couple of its buddies rushed her. It was too much for her to deal with four copper-ranked opponents simultaneously.
Marvel came to her rescue before she needed her. Shai anticipated an assault from her rear, but it never came. She turned her head to find the corrupt Inix bound in webs, immobilised in place as it struggled to break free from the confines of cobwebs.
¡°I¡¯ll take care of them,¡± Marvel¡¯s voice found its way into her mind. ¡°You begin collecting the mushrooms.¡±
The spider bolted to land among the anoles and impeded their advance.
¡°Give me a moment,¡± Shai replied and shot towards the only confined anole, while Marvel fended off the others that broke free. She only needed one more copper rank creature kill.
Shai wasted no moment to shoot another [Arcane Shot], infusing all the poison she could. It struck the anole in its weak dewlap before digging deeper into its neck. Of course, a strong copper rank creature wouldn¡¯t fall just with that. So, Shai shot forth and bit into its neck.
It took more than a moment, but not long enough for Marvel to complain.
[You have slain a Corrupt Inix Lvl 29.]
[Congratulations! Your Mark, Predator has evolved into the Mark of the Apex Predator.]
[Mark of the Apex Predator:
By hunting down your tenth higher-ranked prey, you have proved yourself as the Apex Predator. All your survival and predatory aspects, senses have been augmented to match an Apex Predator. You have gained the aura of an Apex Predator, which may instil the effects: trance, freeze, or dread in targets.
+10% efficiency to all primary attributes.]
[Your skill, Predatory Instinct (D) reached complete mastery. +4 All primary attributes.]
[Synergy detected between the skill Predatory Instinct (D) and the Mark of the Apex Predator.]
[Congratulations! Your skill, Predatory Instinct (D), is evolving¡]
Shai let out a loud hiss as primal essence surged within her, flooding all her channels with empowerment. She soon entered into an ethereal, meditative state, as all thoughts were lost to her. She directed the rush of energy at will. The control she discovered over the essence was something else entirely.
[Your skill Empower (E) has reached complete mastery of the rank. +3 Physique, Soul, Recovery.]
[Empower (E) has advanced to Empower (D). 2 Insight points have been consumed.]
[All primary attributes have reached the 50-point mark. You have formed the Perfect Foundation. +5% to all Primary attributes.]
[The next part of the quest Advancement III is available for you.]
¡°Shai?¡± Marvel¡¯s voice found its way once again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
She let out a squeal, still intoxicated with the power filling her. ¡°Nothing bad... I just gained the Mark of the Apex Predator, and it came with a lot more benefits than I thought...¡±
¡°Oh... Congratulations!¡± Marvel exclaimed, too invested in the battle to express anything more.
Shai joined the battle instantly, regaining control over her form. With the rush of power coursing through her body, she lunged at the next opponent and bit it to death.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Marvel urged her again to get going with the real task they were here to do, so Shai refrained from wasting any more time fighting the corrupted creatures. She couldn¡¯t level up without advancing to Copper rank, anyway. It was kind of pointless to fight at this moment.
I wonder if I would get back these essence rewards after I advance... Keeping her thoughts to herself since the one who could answer her was concentrated in battle, she focused on collecting the mushrooms.
[Congratulations! Predatory Instinct (D) has evolved into Apex Intuition (B).]
[Apex Intuition:
Mastery: 3%
The intuition of the Apex Predator is made evident in your blood, bone, and essence. You have gained a knack for intuition about stuff like hunting, survivability, and other precarious fields.]
I was hoping for C, but this... Thank you, Grandpa! Shai was momentarily dazed at the skill evolution. Though for a skill of B rank, it looked a little lacklustre, considering the description only involved intuition. Debating that she would know better after putting the skill to the test, Shai manoeuvred herself quickly from one row to another, uprooting the mushrooms by snaking her way through them in a wreckage.
She planned to store them when she reached an inventory-full load. She didn¡¯t have the same level of control over the boons as she did over her skills or aspects.
A few of the corrupt creatures found their way towards her, as Marvel wasn¡¯t nearly enough to keep them at bay. Shai either finished them off with a barrage of [Arcane Shots] or frightened them away. Well, considering she was focused on one job, it was more of the latter.
The new mark, [Apex Predator], helped greatly. She would just flare with primal essence, and her predatory aura would cry out, impacting the creatures psychologically. It worked like a charm so far.
Marvel finished cleaning up the creatures before Shai could collect the mushrooms. Without uttering a word, the young empathic spider joined her in collecting the sustenance. There was no gloating over their friendly competition, either, as Marvel wholeheartedly collected the mushrooms in a heap.
¡°Well, you look a little bigger,¡± Marvel observed after they finished.
¡°Huh?¡± Shai hadn¡¯t noticed before, but as she examined herself, she found that the growth was far more than just a little... Be it her length, dimension, or weight, all of it had almost doubled. She still wasn¡¯t half as massive as the dumb python she had hunted, but she feared she would get there with advancement.
¡°What do you intend to do with the corpses?¡± she asked.
Marvel¡¯s eyes flashed towards the corpses spread out, or hanging from the wall. ¡°Nothing, I guess... I have collected a few cores from them, but anything more would waste too much time.¡±
She turned to show a dozen or so gem-like essence cores bound in cobwebs on her abdomen. Shai felt it a loss, as Marvel hadn¡¯t collected nearly half of the cores. But there was nothing they could do at this moment¡
Letting out a hiss of exasperation, Shai put her essence to work. She spread it all over the heap of mushrooms and urged her Inventory boon to absorb them all.
It turned out they had collected a little more than what she could carry herself.
¡°Now, are we good to go?¡± Marvel urged her.
¡°Wait a second...¡± Shai turned her head to the remaining mushrooms as her jaw opened wide, along with a terrible suction force. Dozens of mushrooms entered her mouth nearly as fast as the Inventory stored them, though she could only eat so much...
Perhaps becoming massive won¡¯t be bad at all, Shai thought to herself as Marvel carried her on his back before shooting out.
Stuffed full, Shai let her mysterious stomach do its work, while she turned her attention to her status page. She had grown a lot since the last time she checked.
________
[SYSTEM PAGE]
[Shai]
Rank: Foundation (F)
Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 25
Laws: Concept of Hunger (intermediate)
Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser). Apex Predator.
Attributes:
Primary Attribute:
-
Physique: 54 (+20%)
-
Mind: 65 (+40%)
-
Soul: 76 (+20%)
-
Recovery: 51 (+40%)
Special Attributes:
-
Insight: 2
-
Evolution: 0
-
Fortune: 9
Unallocated points: 16
Aspect:
Golden Eyes (A) | Poison Affinity (D) | Essence Eater (B)
Skills[8/8]:
Advanced Meditation (E) - 100% | Apex intuition (B) - 3% | Arcane Shot (D) - 95% | Essence Weaving (E) - 92% | Force Shield (E) - 59% | Empower (D) - 1% | Mental Corrosion Resistance (D) - 100% | Spellforging (D) - 2%
Boon:
Inventory | Lingual Comprehension
Remark:
I promise I won¡¯t eat you...
[System Log] [Active Quest] [Skill Reservoir]
___________
Shai wanted to know how her stats compared to someone like Marvel, or better yet the elder spiders, who were easily thrice her level. Well, they definitely had better mastery over their skills, but she didn¡¯t think Marvel had that much edge on her, simply based on pure attributes.
And Shai could already see how much she could improve... But she didn¡¯t intend to delay her advancement any further than required.
She¡¯d grab that delicious fruit from the cunning spider grandma after finishing this job and comprehend the concept of Light in no time. That would take care of one requirement for the path [Eye of the Crusader].
The other one would be a little tricky, Shai thought. Thankfully, spellforging had already shown her a way.
Chapter 55 - Perfect Core
¡°One truckload of tasty mushrooms incoming,¡± Shai hollered as they reached the inner empathic spider territory, unaware of who was listening to her. After all, she had decided to keep the mask for the time being. The least she could do was use the artifact and enjoy expressing herself freely.
Immediately, hundreds of spider eyes shifted in their direction, all flashing red. Thankfully, very few of them were from spiders higher level than hers. Mostly baby spiders clung to the wall, probably gossiping among themselves about the devilishly cute snake. Not today, kids. The little me has a lot of work left to do...
¡°Where should I drop the load?¡± she asked.
Marvel carried her silently to one corner, before a huge-ass, weird-looking broken gate with light constructed all around them.
¡°Elegy?¡± the young spider called.
¡°In a minute,¡± a voice rang in their minds curtly. Soon, the unique grey spider came out from the deeper part of the tunnel to land before them, as a thick layer of spider net materialised above them. ¡°Drop them there, so it will be easier to collect.¡±
Marvel scaled the wall to bring them above the net. She only faltered when they were completely upside down above it and urged her to deposit the load.
Shai concentrated on opening Inventory, positioning the output point just in the middle of the net. A hole appeared shortly, and out came delicious mushrooms in a flurry.
¡°Alright, kids, remember your Aunt Shai whenever you eat these,¡± Shai expressed, though unsure if the infant spiders were even capable of hearing her.
Well, depending on the zealous looks she was receiving, along with the showering of their favourite food, Shai might have become a unique oddity among the younger generation of the empathic spider clan.
¡°Hey, look, I¡¯m more popular than you,¡± she expressed privately to Marvel, who only waited a second after the mushrooms stopped dropping to shoot the way back. ¡°Well, you certainly are in a workaholic spirit today.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re obnoxiously high spirited,¡± Marvel returned after a moment of silence.
Shai tilted her head, mulled over her emotions, and hissed in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m happy. Finally, I¡¯m back on the steady route to supremacy.¡±
¡°You barely started on the path and are already dreaming of supremacy?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll share my sentiment if you know which path I¡¯m aiming for...¡±
¡°Then tell me, what path you¡¯re aiming for?¡± Marvel sounded a little intrigued. ¡°I know something is different about you, with how Solace and others reacted to you, and what I experienced, but you¡¯ll still be advancing to copper rank. It¡¯s far from the word ¡®supremacy¡¯ you so like to use.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m glad that you asked.¡± Shai scrolled into [Active Quests] to see the tasks remained unattended before finally moving into the Path section. Thankfully, she had access to all the information on the paths she managed to glimpse upon.
[Special Quest: Defier:
By defeating the cursewalker, you have proved your alignment and determination. Hunt more of the corrupted creatures and make it your calling.
Requirement for Clearance: Hunt 1000 corrupted creatures the same level or above your station. Progress: 149/1000.
Reward: Mark of the Defier.
Penalty: None.]
[Quest: Advancement III:
Unwittingly, you have touched upon something greater than you realise. After a perfect foundation, it is time to create your perfect core to advance into Copper rank.
Requirements for Clearance: Form a core that perfectly aligns with your path and laws.
Rewards: Evolution of the mark, Wayseeker.
Penalty: Unable to form the perfect core may limit your potential.]Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
Shai hissed. Then there were the requirements for her path.
[Eye of the Crusader (Apprentice*): Sacred
Crusaders are an ancient order, having a similar origin as Preserver. Unlike their more peaceful and virtuous equals, Crusaders are rowdy fighters who listen to none but themselves. The Eye of the Crusader is a special position in the order, whose primary duty revolves around keeping the order aligned with their duty, working as the guiding light that enlightens their path.
Requirements: Perfect Foundation and Core. Eye of the Ancients (Light Affinity Based). An Above D-grade Anti-Mental Corrosion Aspect.
Specialty:
+4 to all Primary attributes, +5 Free Attribute Points per Level.
+24 Will, +24 Insight, +24 Fortune on Advancement.
+10% Effectivity in All Attributes.
+10% Effectivity in All Skills and Abilities.
Evolution of Existing Skills and Aspects.
Insights into spirit imprints, records, and other concepts.
A tiny sliver of divinity.]
[PS: This is only the apprentice-level path, which may evolve into a higher station, eventually. The area of specialty and benefits may change according to evolution.]
¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Marvel clutched to a stop the moment Shai announced the name of the path she was attempting. ¡°It¡¯s Eye of the Crusader? Are you absolutely sure about that? Like The Crusader, the same bunch as the Preserver?¡±
¡°Hundred percent,¡± Shai replied, even though she wasn¡¯t certain about the terms any more than what she read on the system tab. ¡°But it¡¯s tagged as an Apprentice path, even though it¡¯s ranked as Sacred.¡±
¡°Obviously... I¡¯d be damned if you got to become a full-fledged crusader advancing to just copper rank.¡± Marvel paused to collect her thoughts. ¡°Even still... Even so, this is beyond shocking. What the hell did you do to receive such a path?¡±
¡°Only now you¡¯re shocked at how brilliant I am?¡± she gloated for a moment, causing the young spider to transfer a dismissive snort into her mind. ¡°Well, you know I have a unique eye aspect? That seemed to be the main reason that qualified me to have a chance at this. On top of that, I play a significant part in slaying the cursewalker, which just pushed my name higher in the good book.¡±
Ignoring that, she also played a significant role in the evolution of the corrupt skink to cursewalker. But that was irrelevant. the cursewalker was dead, and they were stronger than ever.
¡°I guess that explains why Solace is paying so much attention to you,¡± Marvel began moving again, though far slower than before. ¡°But are you sure about taking this path? You may or may not know what the role of Crusader entails, but you should be aware there¡¯s no return if you advance with this.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it the same for all paths?¡±
¡°I guess, but for some paths, it¡¯s a more brutal truth than others. Especially for a Crusader. Are you fine with the duties you¡¯ll be entitled to?¡±
¡°What duties? Ain¡¯t nobody told me about any duties,¡± Shai perked up.
¡°Well, I do not know the details, but if the stories are to be believed, Crusaders¡¯ primary duty revolves around cleansing evils.¡±
¡°Great,¡± Shai cheered. ¡°If you know anything about me, Marvel, you should be aware I¡¯m all about destroying evils.¡±
¡°I hope you do not come to regret your decision later.¡±
Shai hissed. She was all about regretting her decisions as well. However, she did believe if she didn¡¯t take this route, it would be the biggest regret of her new life. She was already a snake; this path would merely turn her into a super snake. It couldn¡¯t be downhill from being a tiny snake.
I mean, look at the numbers, she told herself. I cannot deny the numbers this path will get me... and they will only rise from here.
¡°Hey, Marv, I have a few questions,¡± Shai collected herself from the excitement and asked the important questions. ¡°How do I form a perfect core?¡±
A couple of Marvel¡¯s eyes turned to her. ¡°You have fifty points in all primary attributes?¡±
¡°I do.¡±
¡°A fine grasp over your Aspect and Concept?¡±
¡°Hmm...¡± she paused. ¡°Well, calling it fine might be stretching it a little.¡± Or a lot.
She did believe her grasp over the concept of Hunger was pretty great, and it was only improving with time. However, the equation became a lot more difficult with Golden Eyes. The Grade-A aspect remained mostly eluded her. It was really weird, considering how brilliant the eye ability was. It made her insightful about so many aspects of her skills and abilities, reflecting a light over them.
Unfortunately, the aspect remained the darkness under the lamp for a large part. Shai only hoped her mastery of it would rise after she comprehended the Concept of Light.
¡°Forming a perfect core is not as ambitious as it sounds, but it is the first step,¡± Marvel said. ¡°You need to consider what is considered perfect for copper rank is way lower compared to any higher ranks. Keeping it simple is the way to it.¡±
Shai was glad to hear that. ¡°How do I go about it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a time-consuming process, may take a couple of days to weeks depending on your mileage,¡± Marvel considered. ¡°The aim is to condense all the elements of your skills, aspects, and concepts into the core, while leaving room open for the future aspects and skills. The latter is more difficult than the former.¡±
She thought deeply about that, but Marvel wasn¡¯t finished.
¡°Solace taught us to make one core concept about ourselves to be the fundamental aspect of the nuclei while condensing the rest around it. It was far simpler for me because I only had one core aspect. As you can already imagine, our clan is thoroughly disciplined over the concept of Empathy. With a little supervision and teaching, it was easy for me to form my perfect core.¡±
But Shai had two core aspects to think about. ¡°Thank you for the answer. As for my next inquiry, I want to know more about Aspects. How can they develop from a simple skill? What kind of changes--¡±
She paused, hearing the cacophony of corrupted creatures once more.
¡°Looks like you¡¯ll have to wait a little longer for the explanation,¡± Marvel expressed as she jumped into the middle of the mushroom pit. ¡°We have more evil to slaughter.¡±
____________
Chapter 56 - Quest Complete
¡°Hehehisp~¡± Shai laughed, striking [Arcane Shot] to kill the last of the corrupted Inix. ¡°This is becoming really easy for some reason.¡±
She wondered why. It was the seventh time they were harvesting mushrooms, and yet they were nowhere near close to harvesting the whole cultivation pit. Hell, they were not even halfway there. On top of everything, they had to fight off corrupted creatures every time to harvest the mushrooms. The only consolation was that it had been growing very easy to fight off evil each time they delivered the load.
The mark and other benefits she earned played a significant role in raising her capability, but what helped the most was their teamwork. With both of them working together for several hours, the synergy of how they fought greatly boosted each other¡¯s performance.
¡°Must be because I¡¯m just too awesome,¡± Shai expressed with a pleased hiss, while she shot another poisoned [Arcane Shot] at her foe.
¡°Shai, stop playing with them,¡± Marvel¡¯s not-so-pleased voice rang in her mind. ¡°The gate would be opening at any moment now... We have to get at least a couple more sprees in that time.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not playing,¡± Shai said quickly, while simultaneously finishing off the last two of her corrupted creatures. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest of them and go begin picking the mushrooms.¡±
Marvel didn¡¯t argue and flung above her to begin uprooting the mushrooms. On the other hand, Shai fended off the fatherless miscreants. She finished off most of them, while the rest were fleeing, when an earthquake hit. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t last more than a fraction of a second.
Hmm, Dungeonquake? Shai shook her head and turned to Marvel. ¡°What the hell was that?¡±
Marvel let out a familiar ¡®Grrr¡¯ to express her annoyance. ¡°Crap, it¡¯s already time... that was likely the gate.¡±
¡°You guys¡¯ gate opens with an earthquake?¡± Shai hissed. ¡°Why it couldn¡¯t be just be a creaking?¡±
¡°You have already seen the gate, and it is quite big and not like any common door!¡± Marvel clattered her mandibles. ¡°Quick, collect them into your intra-dimensional storage. We cannot waste any time.¡±
Collecting the delicacies as quickly as they could, Shai rode Marvel on the way back. The young spider didn¡¯t hold back after the short earthquake hit. By the time they returned, it wasn¡¯t as dark as Shai remembered, though the light was far from being anything natural. The lights were red, purple, pink and all the dark colours.
The source was obviously the very peculiar-looking gate, now glowing in all sorts of dynamic colours. Her [Golden Eyes] activated on their own as she stared down at the portal.
Shai had been half expecting something truly magical, something portal-like which would teleport them all out of this hellhole. Her imagination might have been wild, but the colours and wild amount of essence fluctuating from the gate went beyond her imagination.
Fearing that her [Golden Eyes] might divulge something deeper into the very fabric of the portal gate, and blast her mind with unconsumable insights, Shai forcefully suppressed the aspect. Her eyes returned to normal as she lowered her sight to the young spiderlings lined before the huge portal gate, jumping into it one by one. The elder spider Elegy was supervising the whole thing.
Shai deposited the load into the increasing heap of delicious mushrooms, as the cobwebs supporting stretched a little more.
¡°Good job,¡± Elegy transferred without lifting her attention off the fledglings. ¡°Perhaps with all this, we can suffer through a couple of weeks.¡±
¡°Elegy, the gate will remain open for a couple of hours, right?¡± Marvel asked.
¡°If you¡¯re thinking of going for another round before the gate closes,¡± Elegy paused, ¡°you¡¯ll be stretching for time. The gates will only remain open for an hour and a few more minutes.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
¡°We can still go for another round,¡± Marvel said with conviction.
¡°I know you can, but I would not like to take chances,¡± Elegy said.
¡°But¡ª¡±
¡°No buts,¡± the elder spider cut her off. ¡°As I said, this is enough for a couple of weeks. We can manage something better at that time. What you have accomplished is quite amendable. Do not worry anymore. You might not remember, as you¡¯re quite young, when you have been inside, the inner realm is full of rich essence and ingredients. Also, Mother will take care of us all.¡±
¡°Alright, Elegy,¡± Marvel said, sounding reluctant.
¡°If you want to do more,¡± Elegy finally spared her some more attention. ¡°Perhaps Serenity can use your help. Go find her. She¡¯s responsible for the other gate. Solace also left something for you and the greedy snake with Serenity.¡±
Shai hissed, her forked tongue salivating just at the mention of her prize.
¡°Something for me too?¡± Marvel wondered what it could be. Unfortunately, the guardian spider didn¡¯t pay her any more attention, getting busy with her work.
Marvel carried on the same way, moving as fast as she could. Shai had no clue where the other gate was, but she did feel a little reluctant about leaving all the delicious mushrooms to those corrupt creatures.
¡°You know, one hour is just about enough to collect another batch of mushrooms,¡± Shai interjected. ¡°And it would take even less time if we do not have to fight off the pests.¡±
Marvel clattered in agreement.
¡°Hey, since we¡¯d be going the same way, why don¡¯t we take a look at the cultivation pit one last time?¡± Shai asked. ¡°If monsters have littered the pit in the meantime, we can easily avoid them and leave. But if there are no monsters...¡± She let the words hang in the air. ¡°Even if we have enough mushrooms, I... we can always help some more.¡±
After a moment of silence, Marvel clattered in agreement. ¡°I don¡¯t see a problem with checking out the pit.¡± After a moment, she added, ¡°Wait. There is another cultivation pit closer to the other gate. Let¡¯s check that one out.¡±
Marvel moved for half an hour, either swinging on webs or scaling the walls to traverse the dungeon pathways. She showed no expression of tiredness until they reached the pit, only to find more than half of the field already harvested clean with no sign of corrupt creatures in the surroundings.
¡°There¡¯s some isolation formation still intact here,¡± Shai said, peering at the periphery of the cultivation pit. It was similar to the other one they were harvesting, only a little smaller in capacity.
¡°Marvel,¡± a voice rang in their minds. ¡°And you too, Shai. Have you already completed your part?¡±
Shai remained silent to let Marvel answer, while the familiar figure of a spider came out of the pit, dragging along a bountiful collection of a different variety of mushrooms in her webs. Who could have thought that the spider granny would leave the same duty to someone else after offering it to two very unreliable options?
¡°Yes, we have collected for seven rounds before Elegy dismissed us a moment ago,¡± Marvel transferred. ¡°She said you need our help?¡±
¡°I¡¯m almost done here too,¡± Serenity returned as she carried the huge load of mushrooms with mechanical ease. ¡°Help yourself if you can collect some more. I¡¯ll be waiting outside the gate.¡±
¡°About the fruit,¡± Shai interjected before the elder spider could leave. A pair of red spider eyes flashed towards her. ¡°Forget I asked...¡±
¡°I will give it to you once we finish all this.¡± With that, Serenity left, carrying the huge load of delicious mushrooms.
They got to work, wasting no time. Since there were no corrupt creatures they had to fend off, it didn¡¯t even take ten minutes to load her inventory full of mushrooms.
¡°Phew!¡± Shai hissed. ¡°Now I don¡¯t have to worry about suffering from hunger for some time.¡±
Marvel narrowed her eyes and was just about to express that the mushrooms weren¡¯t just for her when another earthquake shook the ground, this time far more intensely than before.
¡°What the hell was that?¡± Shai screamed. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me that was the indication of the gate closing off.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, there¡¯s still plenty of time for the gate to stay open, and besides¡ª¡± Another tremor stopped Marvel from whatever she was about to say. ¡°What kind of web-twisting shit is going on out there? Shai, quick! Hop on!¡±
Shai didn¡¯t wait ceremoniously. She lunged on top of the young spider as they moved in the direction Serenity had left a few minutes before. The paths were very twisty and labyrinth-like, but Marvel moved meticulously as though she had the whole nook and crannies memorised in her brain.
Finally, they came before a miniature form of the same portal gate¡ªthankfully, it was still glowing in dynamic dark lights, much to their relief. The only problem was the herd of corrupt creatures littered around the place, and only one guardian fending them off from entering the gate.
Shai¡¯s insightful eyes flashed in the direction of a very familiar golden-tailed eagle surveying above them. When Shit hit the fan¡!
¡°Marvel,¡± the familiar voice of Serenity rang in their minds. ¡°Quick, enter the gate.¡±
Chapter 57 - Rush
We were already in the battle when Serenity ordered us to enter the gate. Demonic creatures surrounded us from all directions, attacking with their everything to get a taste of us. The eagle wasn¡¯t among them. It was still up in the air, its intelligent eyes surveying.
¡°Tell her to take care of the damn bird,¡± I practically shouted. ¡°It is with the trespasser.¡±
¡°Bird?¡± Serenity asked, being already on my mind. A pair of her eyes flashed in all directions until she found the golden-tailed eagle hovering above us. Unfortunately for us, she was in no position to take care of it at this moment, surrounded by a herd of corrupted creatures. ¡°I will deal with it. You two enter the gate quickly¡ I am not sure how long I can fend them off.¡±
Marvel jumped into the fray before Serenity could finish giving orders. Even if Marvel wanted to abide by the instructions, she found it tremendously difficult to follow through. There wasn¡¯t even fifty metres of distance between us and the glowing portal. Unfortunately, corrupted creatures littered every inch of the place, restricting our passage.
Some creatures were even jumping into the portal while the elder spider fended off their advances. Alone, she was hardly enough to take all their assault upon herself.
¡°Do not move on your own, Shai,¡± Marvel instructed as I struck a barrage of [Arcane Shots] at the enemies. The weaker ones fell away easily, however, the stronger ones did not even budge. By the look of the wall of demonic creatures standing before us, it seemed there were a lot of stronger monsters.
Marvel shot web after web to bind them together and restrict their assault, jumping over their head. Wherever she landed, monsters jumped at her in maddening violence. I took care of the attacks in her hindsight and those she was unable to deal with on her own. My mind numbed, simply shooting arcane shots, my energy reserves almost depleted after firing dozens of them in such a quick succession.
A huge lizard, almost double Marvel¡¯s size, came through the enemy lines like a wrecking ball. It squealed horrifyingly, dashing with its savage maw open to take a bite of the spider¡¯s head. Marvel struck where it was weak.
The monster froze only a fraction of a second before it was about to gobble her. Marvel stared at it with her marvellous, smouldering red eyes. Unfortunately, the monster was of the third tier¡ªsomething the fledgling spider couldn¡¯t control for more than a fraction of a moment.
Good thing she had a trustworthy and angelic partner to help around.
I didn¡¯t waste any time. Taking advantage of the situation, I shot another barrage of [Arcane Shots], aiming at the monster¡¯s eyes.
Marvel¡¯s control broke, and blood bubbled out from the ghostly eyes of the lizard. It screamed horrifyingly, scrambling in a rampage. Marvel lunged up to dodge as it broke through monsters. The iron lizard was not dead, though blinded and maddened enough that it would not bother us again. Now it was fighting its corrupted brethren, thinking it had got us.
With the monster easing our path, Marvel halved the distance in no time. It would have been impossible for any bipedal creature to cover such distance impeded by a horde of maddened creatures. Thankfully, Marvel was not one.
With each step, we grew closer to the portal, where something else was going on. Instead of attacking us, most of the monsters were jumping into the portal as on the other side Serenity was doing her part in the rampage.
Now I wondered if jumping into it would be a good idea anymore, considering we might have to fight the creatures once more on the other side.
My contemplation was cut short as I felt wild blades of wind rushing towards me. The golden-tailed eagle finally took its chance, swooping down.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
¡°That damned bird!¡± I cursed to Marvel, who spared a couple of her eyes to avoid the rushing wind.
My energy reserves were largely gone, and Marvel was no better. To deal with a creature of this calibre, we would need a lot more than that, and even then, I wouldn¡¯t be confident of taking it down due to its advantage in aerial route.
My eyes scanned the surroundings. The portal was only a dozen paces away, but the bird was a mile faster than Marvel. Not to mention, it could still come after us through the portal as well. While I wondered about what I could use against it and rummaged through all the belongings in my inventory, an idea finally came to me.
Feels so damn stupid for not trying this before, I muse. Now I¡¯d have to face whatever comes out of it.
¡°Marv, don¡¯t falter, go straight!¡± I shouted. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this bitch!¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± Marvel asked, but my focus was entirely on the bird.
Our eyes met for a split second as the bird shot like an arrowhead towards us. No, not at us. It had only one target in mind¡ªit was after me.
¡°Come on, birdie,¡± I hissed, preparing no attack. ¡°I¡¯m going to fill my stomach with you tonight.¡±
Halfway into its flight, the eagle manifested its complete form, easily as wide as two metres with its wings unfurling. Its speed rose tremendously, and I couldn¡¯t ask for anything more.
¡°Shai?¡± Marvel¡¯s voice alerted me in my mind, feeling the danger growing. ¡°Shai?!¡±
I had no time to answer, putting all my willpower into opening my inventory as wide as possible right before me, where the bird was swooping down.
The stupid eagle didn¡¯t see it coming as its head drove into the inky darkness of the inventory. A pinprick stuck in my skull instantly as a backlash, and I wasted no time closing off the storage function. The dark entrance of the inventory closed even faster than I hoped. It was gone in no time, leaving a spray of blood and feathers in the air.
"Hey Grandpa, it''s dead, right?¡± I hoped. There was no notification to indicate such. Still, this was the best outcome I could have hoped for.
There were merely a couple of steps remaining for us to jump into the portal, and Marvel didn¡¯t waste her energy being surprised at the whole encounter. She jumped.
¡°Oi, Spider Mama, don¡¯t eat my fruit,¡± I shouted through the empathic filters of my mask, remembering I hadn¡¯t gotten my reward yet. ¡°I swear if¡ª¡±
I was silenced as inky darkness consumed my sight and mind for a split moment. That was probably what the eagle felt. Fortunately for me, the feeling only lasted for a split second.
Warm wind brushed against my scales as I opened my eyes once again to find bright light flashing around us. I was still coiled around Marvel, and everything else was moving around us.
I blinked, turning my head around. My bad, everything wasn¡¯t moving. It was us who were falling.
¡°MARVEEEELLLL!¡± I screamed, completely unprepared for these empathic spider shenanigans again. I had no essence left to pull something magical off my ass to save us.
Marvel took care of the asspulling. Cobwebs shot from her rear and stuck into the wall. A couple of them wouldn¡¯t be enough to support our weight, so she spread out more until both of our bodies stuck against the wall. It wasn¡¯t hard, since countless large glowing bulbous plant-like things were growing on the wall.
They were the source of light. We squashed one in the crash. It was luminescent no more, with shimmering sap coming out of it. It took all my willpower to stop myself from licking the glowing substances. For some reason, my snek senses went berserk on contact with them. And it wasn¡¯t a bad kind of it.
Putting her sharp appendages to work, Marvel glued herself to the wall and released an expression of relief.
¡°At least we wouldn¡¯t have to fight the corrupted creatures,¡± I transferred. ¡°Those stupid bitches are probably dead from the fall.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Marvel¡¯s empathic waves were laced with exhaustion. It wasn¡¯t every day one got completely surrounded by a flood of demonic creatures. ¡°I think there¡¯s a web cushioning down there somewhere.¡±
The chasm seemed endless. Even with all the bright light around us, I couldn¡¯t confirm her suspicions. On top of it, my [Golden Eyes] went inert.
¡°Still, it¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t take chances,¡± I praised, patting her back with my tail.
Marvel expressed an echo of discomfort. Only then did I notice she was injured. One of her appendages was cut halfway at a joint, while another was a mangled, bloody mess. The juice still dripping from it.
Perhaps I didn¡¯t do as good of a job as I thought, I sighed inwardly.
¡°Any chance of you growing those back?¡± I asked hesitantly.
¡°I¡¯ll be fine after some rest,¡± Marvel returned.
Well, I very much doubted that, but I didn¡¯t argue with her. ¡°Do you know where to meet up with the rest of your clan so they can heal you?¡±
Marvel released an expression of affirmation. ¡°But before that, we must clean out the pest from corrupting our holy ground.¡±
Sister, you need to catch a break or two.
Chapter 58: Bolded Companions
While Marvel tended to her wounds, I accessed my Inventory. No, I wasn¡¯t intending to open it¡ªonly to enter my consciousness inside to get a feel for what had happened to the damned bird.
As I hoped, I found it hovering in the darkness of the Inventory, completely frozen in time. It was crammed in the confined space, with one of its wings wounded right around the edge in a completely straight cut, while the rest of it remained frozen, like everything else inside the Inventory.
Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t tell if it was dead. There was a good chance it was, but I had received no notification to imply such. Perhaps it was because the system didn¡¯t count it as my kill?
Well, the Inventory function did most of the hard work. I simply opened and closed it promptly. Hmm, creatures killed in the trap counted as my kill. Was this because something like an Inventory was far beyond my understanding?
Whatever the case, I couldn¡¯t abandon the other possibility¡ªthat it was alive, only frozen in time. I wouldn¡¯t let it out anytime soon to find out.
Marvel had bandaged her wounded appendages with her webs and created a spiral web to rest upon. I was dangling nearby, so depleted I needed rest of my own. Serenity had likely closed the portal after we exited¡ªor something else had¡ªas not many other creatures had fallen since our descent.
A tinge of regret crossed my cold heart for not getting the fruit from her before jumping into the portal. On that note, I hadn¡¯t been trying to enter this secret holy realm. But considering what I had witnessed, perhaps being inside would be far safer.
Gingerly, I brought out a bunch of tasty mushrooms from the Inventory and gobbled them up. As tempting as those glowing bulbous plants looked, I didn¡¯t want to take my chances with them¡ªespecially with my Inventory half full of these delicious treats.
Instantly, a tenth of my essence reserve recovered, and my passive restoration pace quadrupled. A pair of Marvel¡¯s fledgling eyes shifted in my direction, watching me devour mushrooms.
¡°You want some?¡± I asked.
Before Marvel answered, I brought another batch of mushrooms right around her head. Marvel caught them with her web, expressing a tune of gratitude.
¡°It¡¯s your crops,¡± I muttered. Finally, with some essence in my belly, I stirred my prime aspect with some hesitation. An impaling pain struck my mind, and my eyes began stinging. Before the pain grew to feel like they were being gouged out, I halted my ability.
I wonder if a concept of light would solve problems like this. Although it had awakened merely a few days ago, I had become overly reliant on it. That was to say, [Golden Eyes] was beyond useful, even if it had no latent fighting capacity. The support it provided made the difference between breaking and making it.
Since I couldn¡¯t investigate further, I turned to my reliable spidy sidekick, Marvel¡ªlow on--Morales. ¡°So, what are these glowing fungi-flower thingies?¡±
¡°Spirit Floren,¡± Marvel returned without turning to me. ¡°These are all infants, but their extracts have some medicinal properties.¡±
¡°What kind?¡± I asked, finally drawing a hesitant forked tongue across the juice smeared on me. It was unnervingly intoxicating already, and the moment it touched my tongue, the feeling magnified.
¡°Ecstasy, mostly,¡± Marvel said, sparing me a glance. She noticed the change in my expression and shot me a disapproving look as I licked my peerless form clean. ¡°And emotion amplifiers.¡±
¡°Ecstasy?¡± I lifted my head to meet her gaze. ¡°A magical drug?¡±
Marvel expressed a tune of affirmation.
¡°That explains why it feels so numbingly intoxicating,¡± I said, letting out a heightened hiss. ¡°Any side effects I should be careful about?¡±
¡°These are merely saplings. Other than weakening your senses, they don¡¯t do much. Still, refrain from ingesting any more. Serenity is not with us if anything goes wrong. Again.¡± Her mood soured, recalling how she had left the elder spider to fend for herself. ¡°And you should definitely stay away from any fully grown ones.¡±Stolen novel; please report.
¡°Why? I like what I¡¯m getting, though,¡± I said, grinning and acting a little tipsy. Hmm, maybe I¡¯m a bit high?
¡°Trust me, it will wreck your head in ways you¡¯d never consider,¡± Marvel said.
¡°How do you know? Did you ever take any?¡±
She didn¡¯t answer, which only proved Marvel was reiterating wisdom passed down from her elders. Of course, I didn¡¯t plan on getting any more high. As a matter of fact... I swirled my essence to clear the ecstatic brain fog the Spirit Floren had created in my head and entered a flow state of meditation.
****
Wichter
Wichter felt a headache building as he surveyed the group¡ªthe last remaining members of his band. One of them had died, and another had been captured, which was as good as dead.
Dock had barely managed to escape, his wounds beyond their capability to heal. Not only that, but he¡¯d also had to leave Mikel behind to save his skin. The injuries left the lizardfolk in no shape for another battle. His mind had suffered terrible afflictions, though his body was in slightly better condition.
Mikel and Dock had been two of his more reliable underlings. Now, with half his band disposed of, Wichter was unsure how far he could go to complete his mission. At the very least, he needed to save the two remaining men in time.
Using Lashin for surveillance, he had managed to avoid most of the cursed creatures, but those vile spiders were a different matter. He should have known something like this would inhabit Kismet-forsaken lands.
¡°Couldn¡¯t you at least have returned with the hostage?¡± Wichter glared at the disgruntled lizardman, his voice cold as ice. ¡°Do you realise how useful it would¡¯ve been to have a princeling? He might have been our only leverage to get out of this mess alive.¡±
¡°I did all I could, believe me,¡± Dock said, a shiver running down his spine under Wichter¡¯s piercing gaze.
¡°Those spiders were devious. They¡¯re intelligent¡ªnothing like the monsters we¡¯ve faced before.¡±
Wichter stared at Dock, his hard gaze unyielding and calculating. He seemed to see something Dock could not¡ªsomething that gave him pause. He ignored the lizardman and accessed Lashin through their bond. He hadn¡¯t checked on the bird since everything went to hell.
Sitting down cross-legged, Wichter closed his eyes. Soon, his vision merged with Lashin¡¯s. A shiver clawed at his heart as the sight came to him: monsters¡ªhundreds of them¡ªravaging everything in their path.
Lashin soared over the cursed, darkened terrain filled with those horrors. Wichter sighed in relief to find the bird in a safe aerial position. The dungeon seemed to lack aerial predators¡ªor at least, if they existed, none had revealed themselves yet.
With a mental nudge, he guided the golden-tailed eagle to survey the area further. That was when his gaze turned toward a wide, shimmering light¡ªrevolting and pulsating, marked by signs of spatial magic he couldn¡¯t fully comprehend.
Cursed creatures swarmed toward the portal, desperately trying to enter. A lone spider fought against them. Its unique grey and brown carapace suggested it was a sentient spider with empathic power. It should have had enough wits to withdraw, knowing the odds were stacked against it.
Yet it didn¡¯t. Soon, Wichter realised why. A smaller spider, half the size of the elder, lingered nearby, struggling to fend off attackers.
Lashin¡¯s emotions shifted the moment it spotted the fledgling spider. Wichter failed to discern if the devious creature was playing tricks on his companion, but it shouldn¡¯t have had the leeway to do so while confronting a horde of monsters.
Through the bond, Wichter felt a surge of unbridled emotion: anger, hunger, and violent fury.
To his surprise, the fury wasn¡¯t directed at the spider but at the white snake coiled around the spider¡¯s abdomen. Without waiting for his command, Lashin dove. The reptile hissed menacingly at the approaching eagle, taunting it, unwilling to give an inch.
¡°No!¡± Wichter¡¯s voice echoed through the bond, but Lashin didn¡¯t waver. The eagle¡¯s form expanded, its size increasing as it prepared to strike.
Yet something unexpected occurred. Just as Lashin closed in, an expanse of darkness materialised before them, devouring the golden-tailed eagle in its wake.
Wichter jolted awake with a scream. The connection between him and Lashin had been severed. What had just happened?
¡°Boss? Are you alright?¡± Dock asked.
The other two survivors looked at Wichter with trepidation. He ignored them, focusing on the fractured bond. Clenching his teeth, he tried to re-establish the connection, but every attempt was futile. He could still feel a faint link, suggesting Lashin wasn¡¯t dead¡ªnot yet. But why couldn¡¯t he access the bond?
¡°Boss?¡± Dock pressed again. Even in his injured state, he wasn¡¯t as hesitant as the others, who were too frightened to speak.
¡°Something¡¯s happened to Lashin,¡± Wichter said, rising to his feet. A rare expression of worry crossed his face.
¡°What do you mean? What happened?¡± Dock¡¯s tone grew sharper. ¡°Is it¡?¡± He let the question hang, the implication clear.
¡°No, he¡¯s not dead!¡± Wichter clenched his fists. ¡°I can still feel him. Something must¡¯ve happened. Perhaps he entered the portal, and it severed our connection. I¡¯ve heard of such things happening before.¡±
The connection between bonded companions rarely failed due to distance, but spatial disturbances could disrupt the link. Yes, that must be it, he reasoned.
He paused for a moment, his brow furrowing, before turning to his team.
¡°Five minutes,¡± he announced. ¡°You have five minutes to prepare. We¡¯re going after Lashin.¡±
¡°Boss, are you sure¡ª¡± Dock began, but Wichter silenced him with an icy glare.
¡°No questions. Without Lashin, we¡¯re blind in this mess. And now that we¡¯ve lost our hostage, it¡¯ll take a miracle for any of us to get out of this unscathed.¡±
Chaptre 59: Silence
Wichter
Wichter dragged his band across the cursed terrain, against all their wishes. At least they had received enough rest throughout the journey, considering they had to stoop every so often to hide from the horde of dark creatures. It made the way longer than it should have been, but he had no other choice.
After a couple of hours of trudging along, they finally reached the vicinity from where Lashin had disappeared. Wichter alerted his group to be more cautious as they approached, though the silence reigning over the terrain led him to believe the creatures had vanished since the time he had seen through Lashin¡¯s eyes.
It was a rational thought, considering the cursed creatures merely wanted to feed on something. If they couldn''t find it here, they would hurry to where they could.
His expression darkened when he realised that wasn¡¯t the case. He found the horde encompassing every inch of the terrain. Dark creatures, lizards, giant insectoids, and chilopods littered the floor of the dungeon. Yet, strangely, all of them were silent, as though bound by some spell. None uttered a single squeal, remaining frozen in their spots, which caused him to grow even more wary.
The portal was gone, nor were there any signs of the spiderlings or the white snake, for that matter. Using hand signals, Wichter gestured to his underlings to keep quiet and move cautiously. They stayed far from the horde, remaining hidden in the darkness to observe.
To be thorough, he even utilised his skill, [Cloak of Darkness], to envelop them all, hiding their presence. The skill could mask their aura, sound¡ªpractically everything¡ªmaking it the perfect ability for stealth. If only he wasn''t stupid enough to divide the group after entering this cursed place, thinking it was merely a low-level dungeon.
¡°What do we do now?¡± Dock asked through hand gestures, his expression grim.
Wichter spared him a glance. ¡°We wait.¡±
¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to wait here?¡± Dock asked again. ¡°I don¡¯t know, boss. The silence is unnerving. It¡¯s getting on my nerves.¡±
The scarred leader didn¡¯t reply, as he couldn¡¯t deny the claim. The silence gnawed at him. His eyes searched through the horde of monsters, looking for something¡ªanything¡ªthat might explain the silence. Perhaps something was channelling these monsters, something powerful enough to control them and force them into stillness.
Near where the portal gate had been, he spotted a large humanoid figure standing. They were draped in a tattered cloak, their head hidden beneath a hood, while they worked on something¡ªreadjusting the runes on the gate, trying to reopen the portal once again?
If the figure felt nervous, encircled by hundreds of cursed creatures, they didn¡¯t show it. They worked nonchalantly, sparks of red light flashing around them.
¡°Who is that?¡± Jebson asked, his eyes following Wichter¡¯s gaze to the eerie figure.
Wichter kept his silence. The hooded man might be the one controlling the horde. Then again, he had no reason to believe the figure was human. Many things wore human skin, yet they couldn¡¯t be further apart from being human. This could be one of them.
He considered leaving. This didn¡¯t look good. It seemed far above his pay grade. The essence gems he had received for sabotaging the imperials¡¯ mission weren¡¯t enough to risk his and his band¡¯s lives in this madness. But then, his heart clenched as he remembered his bonded companion.
It had been fifteen years since they had been together since the bird was nothing but an egg. Wichter had cared for Lashin, raised him, and helped him grow into what he was now. And in return, the golden-tailed eagle provided invaluable help during their mission. But their relationship went far beyond simple exchange of favours.
With him gone, Wichter felt a peace of his being was missing.
¡°Boss,¡± Dock said hesitantly, nudging his shoulder, ¡°something¡¯s happening.¡±
Wichter didn¡¯t have to wait long. He saw the cloaked figure smash its arm against the indestructible metal of the gate. The first two blows barely left a mark. Then its arm turned jagged, like a massive hammer pulsating with dark, terrible power. It smashed into the ancient gate, causing sparks to ignite.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
One blow wasn¡¯t enough¡ªperhaps not even a hundred¡ªbut the figure persisted. Eventually, after a dozen or so blows, the infrastructure of the waygate crumbled into boulder-sized pieces, the runes engraved upon it shattering.
Then the silence broke. The cloaked figure let out a shriek, echoed by hundreds of its followers. The monsters leapt to their feet and surged across the dungeon plain once again.
They poured in the direction they had come from, like a flood breaking through a dam, with the lone figure walking behind them like a shepherd guiding their sheep.
Wichter¡¯s heart leapt out of his chest when the figure paused and turned its head towards them. It shouldn¡¯t have been able to see them in the darkness, not after the camouflage he had spread over them.
Yet, when he looked into its smouldering red eyes, a primal fear clawed at his chest, pounding his heart.
¡°We have guests, it appears,¡± a voice rang in his mind, freezing him in place. ¡°Tell me, outsiders, what is your intention in coming here?¡±
Wichter remained frozen, wordless.
¡°I do not like to repeat myself,¡± the voice resounded again, cold and authoritative as the first time.
¡°I¡ Wichter of the Shadowclaw Clan¡¡± he stammered. Unable to find the right words, he uttered the name of the clan from which he had been banished, hoping to impose some semblance of strength. ¡°We entered this dungeon without knowing. We are on a mission, given to us by the Bloodsworn... We¡¯d have left long ago if we had known."
"Leave? There is no place to leave."
Wicher didn''t know how, but some courage wound its way into him, as he began again, "You see, my bonded companion¡ªsomething happened to him. Perhaps he entered through a portal. Please, can you tell me anything about it?¡±
The mysterious figure tilted its head. ¡°Perhaps,¡± it said, its voice as cool as the wind. ¡°Perhaps not. Bloodsworn, you said. Now that is a name I am surprised to hear, after all these years. Perhaps you would like to follow me and tell me all about your mission¡ªand your bird.¡±
It said bird, Wichter thought. So it does know what happened to Lashin?
A slit of a smile appeared on the shadowy face of the cloaked figure before it disappeared into the shadows, leaving an invitation in the air. ¡°Maybe we can help each other.¡±
Even after the figure was nowhere to be seen, he remained frozen, the words ringing in his ears.
¡°Boss. Boss!¡± Dock nudged his shoulder, snapping him from his stupor. ¡°What was that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Wichter replied, wiping the sweat from his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
Yet the voice still lingered in his mind. The Fear. Strength. And promise.
A couple of hours of rest was enough to pull us back into fighting form. So we wasted no more time after that and charged down, intent on clearing out the filth that had entered the gate with us.
I felt a bit guilty about leaving the duty of transportation to Marvel. In the last couple of hours, her limbs had not just magically grown back, but that hardly impeded her unpaid internship as my mount.
¡°What are you gloating about?¡± she asked. She shouldn¡¯t have been able to read my emotions through the mask, so I wondered what had given me away.
¡°Just energised for a fight,¡± I said. ¡°Since I cannot advance just yet, I might as well try to complete my quest.¡±
There were still so many creatures to kill. The quest wasn¡¯t even halfway complete.
"Perhaps we can travel to the other side where the rest will be after dealing with the creatures. Serenity should be going there as well if she hadn''t reached there already. Don''t worry about your reward."
She seemed to hold a lot of faith in the elder spider, but then again, the spider mama was powerful.
Marvel descended swiftly, though she faltered to check on the torn spider webs. They littered the path all the way to the end of the pit, as though a huge wrecking ball had torn through them. To our bewilderment, we found none of those filthy creatures feasting in the pit.
Yes, there were signs of them¡ªfilthy blood, torn bitten flesh, or appendages¡ªbut that was all. None of the creatures remained in the pit. Their trail indicated they had chosen the path to the left and hurried through there.
¡°Isn¡¯t it odd that all of them chose one direction?¡± I asked.
Marvel expressed a wave of agreement.
¡°What is it in that direction?¡±
The spiderling didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Let¡¯s go find out."
Wichter
It took Wichter a moment to realise that the others in his group had also heard the voice, though only he had answered it.
¡°You can¡¯t be thinking of going after it,¡± said Paxon, one of the more cowardly members of the bunch. ¡°This is pure madness.¡±
Wichter couldn¡¯t help but agree, but he steeled himself, pulling down the skill that had been hiding them.
¡°We have a decision to make,¡± he said. ¡°You heard the figure. I don¡¯t know its plan¡ªhell, I don¡¯t even know what it is. But I know one thing: if it wanted to kill us, none of us would stand a chance.¡±
Besides, following the cloaked figure might not be the worst decision of his life. He had followed far worse individuals, simply because he didn''t have the power to deny them.
¡°What are you insinuating?¡± Jebson asked, biting his lower lip. ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t force us¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m not forcing you,¡± Wichter cut in. ¡°I won¡¯t force anyone to follow, but with Lashin missing, I... at least have to try.¡± He sucked in a frigid breath. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to join me, that¡¯s fine. We can disband the band here.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Dock interjected. ¡°It¡¯s been six years we¡¯ve been together, and this is how you want to end it?¡±
¡°It is not my intention to end it here. I¡¯m merely giving you all a choice.¡± Because I¡¯m completely blind in this dungeon, he admitted inwardly. ¡°So, what will you choose? End things here, or follow me on this?¡±
He eyed the remaining members of the band and waited for their answer.
Chapter 60: Phantom Witch
Eventually, we caught up to the misshapen creatures after following their trail. It took less time than I had expected, though the number of creatures was a far cry from the horde that had entered through the portal.
I guessed the slower ones had been abandoned by the rest of the group. There was no camaraderie or familial bond in the horde as there might be with a wolf pack. No, the demonic monsters were a mismatched species of creatures, bound together only by their pursuit of hunger and greed.
It was bounteously surprising that the stronger ones hadn¡¯t eaten the weaker ones yet, considering what I had witnessed before.
Without further contemplation, we jumped into the fray, shooting spider webs and arcane shots at our enemies. Unlike on various other occasions, I stayed close to Marvel. Although the horde was not as strong as the one we encountered outside the gate, it was still a sizable number. Marvel was still wounded, and I needed to ensure she sustained no further injuries before we could return to her clan.
Well, the spiderling was still stronger than me, though she lacked the swift and decisive killing blow to be fully effective. Thankfully, our combat chemistry had grown since we first met. Marvel easily played her part by stopping the creatures or binding them to their spots with her cobwebs, while I targeted their weak spots with my arcane shots.
A barrage of them tore through their segmented bodies, pierced eyes, or gorged into carapaces where they had already suffered from grievous injuries. The [Golden Eyes] enabled me to see all their weaknesses.
Within seconds, I killed dozens of abhorrent creatures, though I was most surprised by how many of them were of copper rank. Never had I thought it would be so easy to dispatch creatures a rank above myself, but those bonus stats surely helped, as did my improved skill and [Golden Eyes]. The sheer control I could exhibit was astronomical¡ªtoo much for these creatures of feast to handle.
¡°Swing atop them,¡± I told Marvel. The creatures had confined us from all directions. Marvel already knew how to use her skill to her advantage. Shooting a web into the top wall, she flung us into the air, narrowly avoiding the horde.
However, they didn¡¯t just rest there. Not only spiders could scale walls; many creatures¡ªcentipedes, reptiles¡ªcould clamber on the walls just as adeptly. Dozens of them surged at us, mounting the tunnel walls.
Black auras empowered their bodies. Their snarls could have frozen any other creatures in their tracks, but the empathic spiders revelled in mental powers, and I was already an apex predator¡ªfar from frightened by these misshapen bunch.
Marvel shot cobweb after cobweb¡ªsome to stop their advance, most to slow or deflect their approach¡ªwhile I purely focused on firing arcane shots. The skill was highly effective, even without toxins. Thankfully, we had not yet encountered any iron-rank creatures. I doubted my poison would work on them¡ªat least, not as fast as it was working on the high copper ranks.
Even with all our efforts, some creatures managed to close the distance between us. There were just too many of them. Marvel used her empathic powers to paralyse their minds, while my arcane shots blasted through their hideous faces, gorging their inane brains out.
¡°Pity, there¡¯re so few iron rankers,¡± Marvel remarked. ¡°I only need two more to complete my quest.¡±
¡°I noticed more than a few, actually,¡± I said, concentrating on [Golden Eyes]. Although most higher-ranked creatures had departed deeper into the tunnels, there were still more than a few iron-ranked abominations¡ªsome injured, others too outrageously rotund to remain at the forefront. We hadn¡¯t slain even half their numbers.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Yet, I noticed the number of creatures diminishing faster than we could dispatch them. My [Golden Eyes] revealed the reason. On the other side of the tunnel, two figures were fighting off the cursed creatures.
Marvel had been staring at the scroll for an inconveniently long time¡ªlonger than it should have taken her to read. Assuming she could read, that was. She was adamant she knew the common tongue of the humans, claiming it was part of her guardian training.
Besides, if the spiders could form a contract with another race, they should have a decent grasp of the language. With that in mind, I left the task to the spiderling.
¡°So, what did you find?¡± I asked, unable to endure the silence any longer. ¡°You¡¯ve been examining it for ages.¡±
A couple of Marvel¡¯s eyes flicked toward the two humanoid figures standing a dozen paces away. Silent, reclined, but not at ease¡ªtheir postures gave them away. I stayed prepared for a sudden attack, even if they showed no signs of hostility.
¡°This paper... I can¡¯t find any fault in it,¡± Marvel said with an air of irritation. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this agreement paper is legitimate.¡±
I sighed in relief inwardly. If the paper was legitimate, then the two had no reason to be hostile toward us.
Marvel seemed to pick up on my thoughts, though still too invested in the terms written in the agreement to indulge me.
¡°So, what¡¯s the problem?¡±
Marvel responded with an empathetic wave of annoyance. ¡°Nothing. Nothing,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just... I didn¡¯t know we had a treaty like this. Or that the Mother even agreed to it.¡±
¡°What are the terms of the agreement?¡± I asked, leaning forward slightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind telling me.¡±
I had no clue if the spiderlings¡ªor this world¡ªhad their own version of NDAs, though I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if they did.
¡°The agreement entailed a simple trade deal between two parties involved, along with compliance to a mutual exchange of agents in response to certain problems,¡± Marvel said. ¡°I never knew we sent any of our kind to the humans over the ages. Perhaps Silence had been there, but that was before my time. And she never returned.¡±
¡°And them?¡± I asked. ¡°Did they ever send agents here?¡±
Marvel gave a brief echo of denial.
¡°Well, now seems as good a time as any to ask them why they¡¯re here.¡±
Marvel agreed. Although she wasn¡¯t among her clan¡¯s decision-making members, it made sense to discuss the trespassers¡¯ objectives before taking them to her elders. She straightened, steeling herself as her mind cleared. Finally, she turned her full attention to the intruders.
¡°I¡¯ve examined the treaty,¡± Marvel said, her mental voice turning regal. ¡°While it appears you haven¡¯t come unbidden, this agreement does not grant you the right to pass through the gate. This is the sacred land of our clan. Not everyone gets to enter here, even among our kind.¡±
The human girl¡¯s eyes flicked toward me, as if to silently ask why a snake like me was allowed here if it was such sacred ground. But she held her tongue.
¡°Look around you,¡± the girl said instead, gesturing at the dozens of corpses strewn across the ashen plain. ¡°These creatures didn¡¯t leave us much choice. Besides, I was under the impression that we¡¯d only get to speak with the elders of your clan after entering through the portal.¡±
Well, she wasn¡¯t wrong about that, I thought to myself. All the spiderlings and elders had already passed through the portal, evacuating their colony completely.
¡°That still doesn¡¯t explain why you come to us,¡± Marvel said.
¡°We demand an audience with your elders,¡± the girl, Isla, replied, ¡°or the All Mother, if possible, on behalf of Empress Iskandar, the original holder of the treaty.¡±
¡°And what do you seek an audience for?¡±
She exchanged a look with her companion. ¡°You may find our goals align tragically, considering you are fighting the same problem as we are: the scourge of the land.¡±
Marvel gave Isla a long, wary look, prompting her to continue.
¡°Just as your clan has been besieged by these creatures, our kingdom is in a similar position,¡± Isla said. ¡°Though, in some ways, it¡¯s even more insidious. The scourge has infiltrated our hierarchies, turned them, unmaking all our attempts against them improbably.¡±
¡°That seems like an easy problem to solve?¡± Marvel perked up. ¡°If one of our members shows any sign of corruption, we quarantine them until the filth is completely cleansed. Even in the rare case where one turns completely, it would never go unnoticed.¡±
¡°Exactly why we need your assistance,¡± Isla said. ¡°Your ability to distinguish between the uncorrupted and those lost to the scourge would be invaluable.¡±
¡°How could you not distinguish between the two?¡± Marvel asked, incredulous. ¡°It was like telling apart water and oil.¡±
¡°We have tried, but the scourge has grown cunning.¡± Isla sighed. ¡°I fear only the Empathic spiders may be infallible in seeing through their veil.¡±
¡°You are not wrong,¡± Marvel said proudly. ¡°We are superior at this.¡±
Then Isla delivered her final move to turn Marvel over to her side.
¡°I see you were injured in the fight,¡± she said, her eyes flicking toward Marvel¡¯s damaged appendages. She gestured toward her elven companion. ¡°He can help with that.¡±
Chapter 62: Fruit of Labour
Marvel was thoroughly against the idea of letting the Elven healer tend to her wounds. It might sound like a foolish child¡¯s whining, but she had reason to be wary of allowing an unknown entity to treat her, especially when it required her to be at her most vulnerable.
Perhaps they had a treaty between them, but that did not excuse the fact that the two parties barely knew each other. Surrendering control of her body demanded a level of faith she couldn¡¯t muster¡ªeven if the healer looked like a handsome blond elf who seemed as if he could never do any wrong.
¡°Will you agree if we take an oath to do no harm?¡± the Witch asked, finding the negotiation going nowhere. Taking a leap of faith, she swore earnestly, ¡°I take an oath to do no harm to you and any other spiderlings we come across¡ªor your allies.¡± She craned her neck towards her companion, giving him a look. He didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°Unless they attack us first.¡±
The elf vowed too, reinforcing the point.
Marvel jerked slightly, feeling the oath settle on her soul. Even I felt a bit of its weight, considering I was regarded as an ally of the spider clan.
¡°Is that all right now?¡± Isla asked. ¡°Will you take our help?¡±
Now that the oath was in place, the biped interlopers could not harm them without facing dire consequences. Well, I didn¡¯t know exactly how dire the consequences of broken oaths were, though Marvel had mentioned it would be the last choice any awakened individual would make.
¡°Can they harm unwittingly?¡± I asked, curious.
¡°They can,¡± Marvel answered, stepping towards the interlopers. Just to be safe, I jumped off her body to keep a safe distance away. ¡°Though that won¡¯t relieve them of the consequences.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll make sure they try nothing fishy,¡± I said, activating my [Golden Eyes].
¡°What do fish have anything to do with healing?¡± Marvel asked. ¡°Wait, is it another stupid idiom? Well, fishes are scaly and reek with a disgusting stench.¡± It was only then that the little spider noted her inter-species reptile friend had scales too. ¡°Not you, though. You don¡¯t reek. Almost bleak with that mask.¡±
Before I could reply, the olive-skinned girl coughed. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so¡ chatty.¡± She still looked incredulous, and regrettably, she had every reason to be. It seemed Marvel had once again forgotten to cut the telepathic connection between them.
¡°Hold on for a minute,¡± the elf said, crouching next to the metre-tall spiderling. ¡°I have never worked on a¡ complicated specimen like yourself. I have to study your anatomy a little for the healing to be perfect.¡±
Even though he said that, within two minutes, he cast his golden light of healing onto Marvel¡¯s wounded appendages. New limbs grew out before their very eyes, the process almost too quick to believe. Within moments, her legs had regenerated to their new state. Well, not their original state, considering how fresh and delicate they looked.
¡°Give it some time,¡± the elf advised. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to circulate your essence through them.¡±
Marvel pressed her newly healed appendages onto the ground tentatively before flashing a couple of pairs of her glaring eyes at the elf. ¡°You are not bad for a biped.¡±
The blond elf chuckled, not taking offence at her jab. ¡°So, do you agree to take us to your elders?¡±
Marvel still kept her two healed limbs hovering in the air as she moved. ¡°You left me with no other choice,¡± she said, turning her full glare towards the interlopers. ¡°But I warn you¡ any form of hostility or scheme, and you will not see the light of day.¡±
So, with two new members in the party, we four strolled into the strange pathways of the sacred land of the empathic spiders.
Once again, we found ourselves wading through the shimmering Florens, leaving us with no other choice but to trudge through them. The strange plants had grown on all sides of the channel. The Witch suffused her whole body, as well as the elf¡¯s, with a thin layer of essence barrier. It restricted all forms of ecstatic agents from entering their bodies.
I watched with my [Golden Eyes] and found it quite easy to replicate the effect. It felt like a higher form of Force Shield, and I had to utilise all my essence-weaving control to use it.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Just a little more, I thought inwardly. Once I advance, I can take all the skills I require.
Of course, that was a lie. My skill reserve and slot would still be limited. But with a few more slots, it would be far more useful. That didn¡¯t mean I should neglect training¡ªmastery provided the extra points I so desperately required, not to mention the possibility of evolving them.
¡°With even a tenth of these stocks of Floren,¡± Isla the Witch muttered, ¡°it could completely overturn the alchemy business on its head. Hell, the amount we wasted simply by passing through is worth more than a small fortune.¡±
She probably said it to get a reaction from Marvel, who didn¡¯t bother to indulge her.
We moved through the strange pathways for hours, sometimes even circling the same tunnels multiple times. It became increasingly apparent that Marvel did not know the way.
¡°I do not want to meddle, but it looks like we are on the same path again,¡± the Witch commented.
¡°I know,¡± Marvel admitted.
¡°You cannot blame me,¡± she expressed privately to me. ¡°I¡¯ve only been here once, and that was barely after I was born.¡±
¡°I said nothing, Marv,¡± I said with a hissing laugh. ¡°Although, what are you going to tell them?¡±
It was already beginning to shake the invincible image Marvel wanted to impress upon the two intruders regarding her clan. Regrettably, they had already seen how little dominion the spiders had left here.
¡°It may look like we are lost,¡± Marvel said, ¡°but that is not the case. As long as one of my clan members makes contact with the empathic wave I have been leaving behind, they will know where I am. And vice versa. It is only a matter of time before we join them.¡±
With those words, I had a little more faith in Marvel than before.
[Congratulations! Essence Weaving (E) has reached mastery.]
[+6 Mind, +4 Spirit, +4 Recovery, +2 Physique]
Finally, all this work was paying off. My spidey companion barely seemed to note the change in me, too invested in finding the way, but the Witch and the elf were more perceptive and exchanged a look between themselves.
I bet you''ve never seen such a fine specimen as myself, huh?
Marvel froze suddenly on the path, her senses scanning everywhere, before releasing an echo of exhilaration.
¡°Marv?¡± I asked.
¡°Shai, it¡¯s Serenity,¡± Marvel¡¯s relieved voice entered my mind. ¡°She¡¯s nearby, asking what the two humanoids are doing with us.¡±
¡°Well, knowing the spider mama, she probably thinks they¡¯ve taken us hostage,¡± I said.
¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Marvel agreed. She relayed their experience with Isla and Faelar to the concealed spider mama. The moment Marvel finished, a figure dropped before us¡ªin a very superhero-like entrance.
¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing fine,¡± Serenity said, examining Marvel.
Then a pair of her eyes flashed toward me.
¡°My fruit! Gimme! Gimme!¡± I hissed at the first sight of the spider mama, being the inconsiderate little reptile I was.
The elder spider said nothing, most of her attention shifting to the two intruders. She lunged forward and stood between us and the two humanoids, watching them with a reddish glare.
Although I didn''t have a good relationship with Serenity, I was relieved by her presence. As long as she was here, she could deal with the two intruders. But my fruit¡ I glowered at her back.
¡°She¡¯s wounded,¡± Marvel said, unsure. ¡°Although she looks perfect on the outside, I can feel her soul quivering. The fight must have taken a lot out of her.¡±
¡°You look similar to the human monarch who came here over a decade ago,¡± Serenity said, her eyes settling on Isla.
Isla froze for a moment, unsure how to reply. Then she shook off her hesitation and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m her daughter.¡±
Cool, we now have royalty among us.
¡°That reminds me,¡± the elder spider continued, ¡°didn¡¯t we have another biped claiming to be the heir of the monarch?¡±
Isla¡¯s eyes blinked as hope kindled in them. ¡°Are you¡ is it true?¡± she asked, her emotions surging. ¡°Is he short, dark-skinned, dark-haired? Did he say his name? Is it Javi?¡±
Serenity didn''t bother answering. Perhaps she was uncertain or hadn¡¯t even met the stupid youth, merely heard about him from her sisters.
Thankfully, we remembered meeting this Javi¡ªthough he¡¯d been in a thoroughly devastated state, mentally more than physically¡ªabused first by the mercenaries he had hired and then abducted by the weird colony of spiders.
¡°That stupid biped is your relative?¡± Marvel perked up. She exchanged a meaningful glance with me, which I probably wouldn¡¯t have caught if not for the familiarity I had developed with the little spiderling.
¡°Looks like we helped his plea without even trying,¡± Marvel communicated privately to me. ¡°Perhaps you wouldn¡¯t be half bad as a Crusader.¡±
I only grunted in response. The girl and her elven companion had helped themselves.
Whatever happened now had nothing to do with me. I was going to take my prize, hide in a corner, and try to advance.
Thankfully, Serenity threw the divine fruit to me after a while. It only took a dozen meaningful glances in her direction. Honestly, I didn¡¯t know what she found disturbing about my cute pearl eyes. It wasn¡¯t like I was checking her out or anything. Either way, the key to my advancement was now within my grasp.
I used a force shield to catch the fruit mid-air, saving it from touching the ashen ground. My eyes bulged at the delicate, irresistible aura radiating from it.
¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to warn you about eating it without preparation, should I?¡± the elder spider admonished.
Only by exerting all my willpower did I manage to stow it away. While my Hunger wanted to do exactly that, my last assimilation with the Hunger concept had left me unconscious and vulnerable. I didn''t want to repeat that. Perhaps Hunger wouldn''t be such an influential presence to my emotions after I have another concept to contend with it.
Serenity returned to her confrontation with the intruders, which continued for a while. She left Marvel and me completely out of any vital discussion.
Finally, the spider mama decided it was time to leave.
¡°Let¡¯s go. We can leave the matter of the treaty to Solace.¡±
Chapter 63: Light And Darkness
After a bit of travelling, it became apparent that even the elder spider didn¡¯t know the way out of these maze-like channels. Thankfully, she did lead us through to their new camp, even if it took a bit more time.
The reason for the delay was that the spider colony we were chasing was also migrating from one place to another, and Serenity had to choose among many false tracks to find the right way.
Those bulbous, ecstatic, flower-like plants shrank in size and luminescence as we finally entered the vicinity of the new camp. Immediately, we found signs of dozens of young spiderlings playing around, with their cobwebs strewn here and there, eventually giving way to a downward channel.
Grey, white, and brown spiderlings littered the channel, all playing by snaring their webs at one another or swinging around in a game of tag. Gravity seemed to have no sway over their movements. I spotted a few copper-rank and iron-rank hidden auras watching over the spiderlings, and they turned up at our arrival.
My golden eyes searched for the spider granny, but I saw no sign of her. I sighed in relief and quickly excused myself.
It was time to find a hole somewhere and do my thing.
Making my way as far from the spiders as possible without drawing suspicion or putting myself in danger, I sought out a solitary place to dig a hole. I did find a few large tears in the walls, but none of them looked comfortable enough for what I was about to do.
Digging was easy, but I had to spend some time organising my things and preparing for a defensive formation when Marvel knocked at the back of my mind.
"You don¡¯t have to prepare for all that," Marvel said. "I have brought this."
With that, she projected a mental image of a cobweb ball filled with complicated scripts that I couldn¡¯t understand without the formation concealing itself.
"What is that?" I asked.
"A formation!"
Of course, it was. Even a blind man could tell you that. Suppressing my annoyance, I asked, "Can you tell me what?"
"Ingesting the Fruit of Light will likely trigger your advancement, so I borrowed it from Solace. It''s mostly a Tier-V defensive formation and will ensure you don''t call upon any unnecessary eyes."
She expanded the formation all around us, which unfurled like a large flower before camouflaging us completely. It was like a giant spider web, though its creation was far more complicated than what could be seen with the naked eye. I would have liked to study it more if it were any other time. Now, only one thing played on my mind.
"Hmm, you will need more space than that," Marvel said, gazing upon my form. She tinkered with the formation to enlarge it a couple of metres more. "Hopefully, you won¡¯t be so small after the advancement."
"Are you worried about me using you as a ride, Lil¡¯ Marv?" I said, laying out my stuff¡ªfood and whatever useful items I had in my inventory¡ªalong with the fruit. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep myself small just to ride you."
The spiderling did the equivalent of rolling her eyes at me.
"How long does it take for one to advance again?" I asked.
"For me, it took a couple of hours, though I could have done it within half an hour. Usually, it depends on how impactful the advancement is to one¡¯s path. Since this is going to be your first, it will be more significant than any of the others you will go through." She paused to add, "Perhaps it is only less impactful than reaching the transcendent stage. But that''s beyond any of our imagination."
I was about to devour the food whole when Marvel interrupted me once more.
"You need to remember that patience is key. You already have enough essence to level up to the low forties with all the kills you¡¯ve accumulated. No need to be hasty. Just integrate your concept quietly, and the advancement will come naturally."If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
"Anything else you want to say?" I asked, sparing her a look.
"I will watch over you," Marvel said. "If anything goes wrong, I will call someone who can help."
Expressing my gratitude, I wasted no time calming my trepidation before devouring the divine fruit. The moment it entered my stomach, it melted away into liquid¡ªor rather, a higher form of complex essence¡ªbefore dissolving into sparks of light, burning through my intestines before sliding its way towards my centre.
I let out a piercing hiss, enforcing all the power of my golden eyes to integrate the essence of light law. It turned out to be an easier job than I had anticipated. My golden eyes practically devoured the essence, integrating all the law in it, leaving me as a mere passenger on this journey.
I barely had to touch the process as an ungodly amount of pain assaulted my reptilian brain. All kinds of insights relating to the law of light flooded into me, and I did not have even the barest amount of time to grasp them all. Time seemed to condense and slow in my consciousness as Grandpa¡¯s voice echoed in my mind.
[You have touched upon the tapestry of the laws of Light]
[One point of fortune is consumed.]
The process wasn¡¯t complete, yet I was delighted to find that it was a success. My golden eyes were still working on something with the law, incorporating it.
[Be aware: your aspect, Golden Eyes, is evolving.]
The more insight flooded my mind, the slower time seemed to move, yet the faster the incorporation progressed.
A blink of an eye turned into hours as I began to understand the process of how light worked. The concept was simple enough but looked impossibly difficult to implement. It wasn¡¯t like hunger, which required simple consumption to manifest.
[You have comprehended the Minor Light Elemental Law of Illumination.]
Illumination felt far more complex. But, as with everything, I started from its core simplicity.
While the power of universal concept surged through my consciousness, another power flooded my mortal form. The divine fruit contained as much light essence as it did non-attuned essence, and more than enough to trigger my advancement.
Now it was time to create the perfect core. I prepared myself for the work ahead.
Thankfully, with the evolving aspect, I had all the insight and knowledge at the tip of my tongue.
****
Marvel watched with curiosity as her new friend underwent the process of advancement. Something strange had happened at the beginning when Shai had attempted to incorporate the concept.
For most creatures, the realisation was instantaneous, even if it took unimaginably long periods of meditation to even glimpse it. But for the serpent before her, it had been over an hour. Throughout the process, her skin and tiny scales glittered in a silvery-gold shade, as though she had eaten a light construct.
As Marvel had imagined, the incorporation had triggered Shai¡¯s advancement. A swirl of essence spun around Shai¡¯s form, lifting her into the air. It almost managed to traverse the formation around them, but Solace¡¯s work was sturdier than it appeared.
Marvel watched with trepidation as Shai formed her core. Though she had hunger as her core concept for the longest time, she incorporated light to be her core identity before trying to introduce hunger into it.
The process seemed to slow when it came to hunger. The second concept began to devour the radiant essence as Shai attempted to harmonise both of them into her core. It was in hunger¡¯s nature to consume anything in its path. Whereas Shai¡¯s comprehension of the Light law hadn¡¯t grown strong enough that she could¡ª
Marvel was jolted by a voice.
"Marvel, we need you." Solace¡¯s voice.
"What?" she asked. "What happened?"
"We are under siege. Quick, they need your help!"
The voice ended there, though the presence remained.
Marvel gave Shai one last look before exiting the formation. It was in an obstructed place, safe enough that Shai shouldn¡¯t encounter any problems in her advancement. It shouldn¡¯t have taken her long, anyway. Not to mention, the formation would protect her from most threats out there.
Halfway down the path, Marvel already caught onto the upheaval in the wake. A chorus of chaos and darkness completely dismantled the general air of the vicinity. Marvel knew the Darkness to be Midnight¡¯s, whereas the Chaos could only be from those abhorrent creatures.
Soon, sinister screeches pierced her senses.
Those forsaken creatures had encircled them from all directions but one, forcing their backs against the wall.
All members above copper rank were already engaged in battle. Even the dull male counterparts of her clan were fighting, directed by Solace, whose figure Marvel could only sense through their link. More such links formed as she joined the fray. Elegy. Serenity. August.
Only Midnight was missing, and Marvel immediately found the reason why. The Silver-ranked guardian was busy casting her [Veil of Darkness]. A vast weave of darkness essence flew in web-like forms before collapsing to form a thick blanket that encompassed the area around the fledglings, protecting them as they evacuated towards the east.
"How can I help?" Marvel asked.
"We don¡¯t need you to fight outside the veil," Elegy¡¯s voice came first. "Help me with evacuation. Lead them to Solace."
That sounded easy enough, she thought, though a few of her eyes glimpsed the battle, and her insides chilled.
All the guardians, even the injured Serenity, were holding the monsters at bay. Midnight¡¯s darkness flowed like a murky tide along the line where the fledglings were running, while the rest of the clan fought off the creatures. Serenity prevented anything from getting too close to the spiderlings¡¯ path.
At the same time, Elegy stood at the very forefront, leading the group, keeping the fledglings¡¯ infant minds protected from the chaotic aura.
Chapter 64: Choices
So far, all the corrupted creatures Marvel had faced had exhibited only their savage nature¡ªtheir eternal will to devour everything living in their wake. However, this time, their tactics seemed slightly different. They weren¡¯t simply throwing themselves at everything in their path. No, it was more calculated.
Something had changed. The monsters had chosen to evade the male counterparts of her clan, channelling their whole aggression towards the fledglings. Marvel didn¡¯t believe these abhorrent creatures had simply grown wits overnight.
Nor did she think it was merely because they found the fledglings to be easier prey. After all, they still had to face the Guardians before reaching the younglings.
Don¡¯t engage. Elegy¡¯s voice echoed in her mind as Marvel became entangled with the Cursewalkers.
She was about to complain about being surrounded by those demonic creatures when most of them suddenly froze, entrapped by Elegy¡¯s mental assault.
Quick, Elegy said again, as if she needed another reminder.
Marvel shot forward as the barrier of darkness opened for her. Inside, the air was thick with solemnity. Although the Veil of Darkness concealed most of what was happening outside, it hardly stopped the fledglings from being frightened. To be fair, most of them had never even experienced Midnight¡¯s power before. The all-encompassing darkness was already terrifying enough for them.
Well, it could have been a lot worse than this. Marvel joined the hundreds of her clan already in motion. They could have broken into an uproar.
The thought had barely passed when piercing screeches echoed through the fold of darkness, followed by turmoil rippling through the ranks of her kin.
Barely a handful of enemies had broken through Midnight¡¯s defences, but all were Iron Rank at worst¡ªstill more than enough to push every one of the younglings into panic.
Marvel might not have been the best fighter in her clan, but her training was solid enough to hold her own against a low Iron Ranker.
Besides, I''ve been itching to kill a couple of Iron Rankers anyway.
With that thought, she sent waves of empathic assault, slowing them just enough for her to shield the fledglings at the forefront of the attack.
"Marvel!" Serenity¡¯s voice thrummed into her mind before the elder spider¡¯s figure thrust into the midst of the vile spawns. "Do not let anyone come to harm."
****
¡°Javi!¡± Isla called, running towards the hole where her half-brother was kept.
His prison was a simple pit in the ground, with makeshift metal bars and formations blocking the way out. The youth lifted his head and found her, a look of faint recollection appearing in those troubled eyes.
His appearance was dishevelled, though in far better shape than she had dared to hope. The spiders hadn¡¯t tormented him much, even if they had kept him imprisoned.
Isla thanked Mother Augur for leading her way back to him, clasping both palms on her chest as she knelt on the ground.
¡°Isla?¡± Javi blinked a couple of times, wondering if he was seeing things¡ªif she was really there.
¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Isla said, putting her arm on the bars and trying to reach out, only for the formation within them to flare up, creating an opaque barrier. Tier III, from the look of it.
She could have destroyed it, though it would have taken some time. Enough to alert the spiders.
Although they hadn¡¯t imprisoned her on account of the treaty and her aid to a member of their clan, she was sure they wouldn¡¯t be accommodating if she tried breaking him out of here. Besides, they had only allowed her to see him. She would have to refrain from making a spectacle of herself.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
¡°Isla,¡± her brother said, the gloomy barrier not helping his case, ¡°is that really you?¡±
A lone tear dripped from his eye as he stood to meet her. Their relationship had always been complicated¡ªmore of a competition than a familial bond¡ªyet Isla felt at ease looking at him, finding him relatively safe.
¡°Did those spiders capture you too?¡± her half-brother asked.
¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°No, they did not. It¡¯s¡ complicated.¡±
She couldn¡¯t find the right words to explain everything briefly. In the end, she sighed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll get you out of here. I promise.¡±
It was at that moment a familiar voice decided to reveal itself.
¡°It¡¯s you again.¡±
The voice was commanding and pressed against her mind like a mental attack. If not for her mental defence training, Isla would have been on the ground. Still, it froze her in place.
It took a moment for Isla to organise her bearings as her eyes shifted all around.
¡°You are the one who dismissed us before,¡± she accused.
¡°And yet, you still find your way back here.¡± There was an edge to the voice, making it clear that it did not like her presence. ¡°I thought I made myself clear.¡±
Isla steadied herself, her palms clenched tight. ¡°You alone are not enough to decide for the whole of your clan,¡± she said, turning back¡ªthough she saw no sign of the spider. ¡°The treaty still holds. We can help each other. I know we can.¡±
The other two spiders she had met during her journey had proven to her that they had more in common with her people than she had initially believed. At least on the emotional spectrum. These empathic spiders felt the same way humans, elves, demi-humans, or any other intelligent races did.
¡°The treaty only holds in name,¡± the voice retorted sharply. ¡°Where were you when we asked for help two winters back?¡±
Isla had no recollection of what it was talking about. Her mother had never mentioned any history between their races, merely sending her here on a vital mission. But considering the spider¡¯s distrust, perhaps there had been a miscommunication. Although the empathic spiders were an intelligent race, vast cultural differences still existed between them.
¡°Please,¡± Isla begged. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened or how my mother treated you. But we can still help each other. We can do better.¡±
¡°Perhaps,¡± the voice lamented. ¡°The time for reminiscence has ended. We are under terrible constraints¡ªwe cannot afford to care about some treaty you chose to follow through on only when it benefits you.¡±
¡°We can help you. Give us a chance!¡± Isla cried before the voice could recede completely. ¡°I know it isn¡¯t much, but I can tell your people do not have enough healers to mend physical wounds. My friend and companion, Zael, could help with that. And if there¡¯s¡ª¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± the voice interrupted, cutting her off. ¡°You can try to be useful, perhaps even win back our trust. But I will hold no authority over the treaty going forward.¡±
With that, the connection broke.
¡°What was that about?¡± Zael asked, frowning.
¡°That spider just talked to me telepathically,¡± Isla said, noting that it had spoken only to her.
¡°What did it say?¡± Zael asked.
¡°The same thing again,¡± she sighed. Though not entirely discouraging. It had listened to her, even if it had dismissed her in the end.
¡°So, all this journey for nought,¡± Zil said, his shoulders slumping.
Isla clenched and unclenched her jaw. If they lost the assistance of these empathic spiders, perhaps they wouldn¡¯t lose anything. However, if she could bring them along, the value they might provide would be immense.
Ignoring their mental capacity for attacks, their ability to distinguish between the corrupted and the uncorrupted mind alone would be invaluable. Perhaps enough to shift the tide of battle.
Countless chilling shrieks reverberated throughout the tunnels, pulling her out of her stupor. A cloud of chaotic aura encompassed the zone as she exchanged a glance with Zael.
¡°Looks like we are under attack,¡± he said.
Or rather, it was the spiders who were under attack, she thought. They were merely bystanders in this conflict. Not according to the accords of the treaty.
¡°Perhaps we could still get out of here, taking your foolish brother with us.¡±
She hummed in thought. The spider community was already facing more trouble than they had the power to withstand¡ªat least, that was the impression she had gathered from what the elder spider had told her. As far as she could see, they wouldn¡¯t notice if a few disappeared in the midst of chaos.
Nobody would blame her if she chose to do exactly that. Not getting the spiderling to cooperate was understandable.
¡°Isla, you need to get out of here,¡± her brother said.
She closed her eyes and considered the choices before her. She could either flee in the chaos and return home without help, or she could fight it out¡ªhelp the spiders, as had been agreed between her monarch and the spiders.
In the end, the decision became so much easier when she thought about her people. Each day, they fought. And each day, their numbers dwindled. Villages disappeared, towns fell under siege by the scourge. They fought back, freeing the land from the scourge year after year. And yet, the abominations returned, each time stronger.
¡°I have to do it,¡± she muttered, turning her gaze to her companion. ¡°We have to fight. Even if it doesn¡¯t convince the empathic spiders to join our cause, we still have to fight. We are facing the same enemy.¡±
With that, she ran towards the conflict, the shout of her brother ringing behind her.
But Isla didn¡¯t look back. She believed he would be safer there.