Chapter 9

Not once in my life did I ever foresee myself being in my current situation. Hunting down house-sized spiders belonged more in the realms of my nightmares, but here I was actively looking for them. What has my life come to?

After the first encounter with my new eight-legged friends, it didn’t take long to stumble upon a second spider as a similar situation played out. Hearing the yelps of a Mutt clearly in a scramble I rushed towards the escaping creature as it’s frantic howls were cut off. The sight of the giant spider voraciously ripping apart its prey didn’t get any prettier the second time around, but this time I knew how to handle them.

With its attention fully set on the food impaled on its legs, the spider didn’t even notice me sneaking underneath it. Not willing to let such an opportunity go to waste, the spider naturally found itself crumbling as its legs got cut down. Immobilised but desperately squirming along the ground trying to find its attacker, I quickly started slashing into the spider’s abdomen. In just 30 seconds I had managed to claim my second kill in my one-man war against spider-kind.

Gathering the spiders fangs I added them to my growing collection and continued in my quest of pest extermination. The main concern I had about going further into this labyrinth-like area was that the spiders would undoubtedly be much more powerful at level 10 and above. Like the mutts who had evolved bodies to support their hunting method, it was safe to assume that the spiders would also get stronger at level 10. Maybe they’d shoot out acid or be able to trap prey with steel-like webs, or maybe they’d focus on their weakness and gain a way to defend their fragile legs. There were a lot of possibilities but not even one of them promised a good time for me.

In an ideal world I would stumble upon another couple level 9 spiders who were already distracted giving me the free kill and boosting me to level 10, but I should’ve known by now that this place certainly wasn’t an ideal world. Noticing a large figure in the distance, I managed to stumble upon a spider waiting for it’s prey. Hoping for a Mutt to come along, I sat myself down in wait for the ideal time to strike. As the minutes slowly ticked by, the remaining anxiety of being on a time-limit made my patience run thin. Although I was in a comfortable position points-wise, I was still at risk of immediate termination by the system if something went wrong and I ran out of time. With this, I sneaked through the grass behind the spider which was clearly larger than the others I had encountered thus far.

With the spider wholly unaware, I managed to yet again sneak under its abdomen as I lined up to amputate it’s hind legs. With a long stroke, the mission was a success as the spider quickly screeched out in a panic before coming crashing down.

*SKKKKKKREEEEEEEEEEEEE*

Wasn’t this a bit anticlimactic?

Grumbling about how I was so nervous for nothing, I started cutting into the spider abdomen just an unknown object came flying straight for my face. My shoes were the only reason I was still alive, leaning back at an impossible angle I dodged the first attack just to see another object on a set course to impaling me through the side. Squeezing out every muscle in my legs I managed to move forward just in time to dodge the second attack, knowing that staying on the ground was unsafe, instincts took over as I climbed my way on top of the spiders back as I looked down at my would-be killer.

Miraculously, the spider had somehow completely regrown its legs which I had cut off, these new limbs were pure white in colour and still emerging from the stumps of its legs, but they clearly worked as intended as the spider pushed itself up off the ground.

*SKREEEEEEEE*

As I rose further into the air in tandem with the spider it bucked like a bull trying to send me flying. Refusing, I tugged on the long hairs that covered the spider’s body as it continued its rampage. Noting the lack of success, the creature moved onto a second method of demounting me, one that proved much more successful. With a sudden lurch the spider rolled onto its side just seconds away from crushing me under its giant bulk. Jumping off I was given a scarce few seconds to readjust as the spider righted its position.

Staring head on, the creatures 8 beady eyes scanned my entire body as I did the same to it.

Thankfully the creature still had weak legs that I could focus on even if they did end up regenerating after a few seconds. I had a strong suspicion that the spiders regeneration wouldn't be so OP to be able to do it infinitely, so I set my sights on making this a battle of endurance. I might not have the strongest attacking power, but I sure as hell was comfortable in making this an attrition battle even against this spider with freakish regeneration. Seemingly content with our two separate plans for battle, I broke the stalemate first. Rushing head on at the spider I was met with a fast leg coming straight for centre-mass. Swatting it away with my sword the attack was stronger than I expected as it slashed against my side, cutting through my armour.

Noticing my plan to get under it once again, the spider reared back accomplishing an impossible looking feat. Standing on just it’s back most legs, the creature blocked out the sun as its large body engulfed my vision. Letting itself fall, the spider once again tried crushing me as it sunk into the ground leaving a sizeable crater behind. I had only dodged by a hairs width as I found myself just centimetres in front of the creature’s face. Lashing out with its fangs, I was just a moment faster.

With it’s eight black eyes lined up neatly for me, I happily slashed in a straight line, halving the spiders’ eyes. The cheating bastard still had two up on me though. Distracted by suddenly losing half its vision, the spider screeched out in pain once again as I sneaked my way to the side of the beast. Jumping out of the way of the creature who was rolling around trying to squash me even without knowing where I was, I waited for the creature to slow down for just a second as I cut off its legs once again. Dropping to the ground, the regenerated legs had darkened in colour just to be cut off a second time.

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Now knowing where I was the spider rolled towards me, clearly determined to end this by crushing me. Retreating backwards the spider continued to roll until its legs grew back as it attempted to stand once again. Naturally, I didn’t allow that. Abusing the newly regenerated legs, the spider lost its footing for the third time, causing it to scream with more fury than pain.

*SKAAAAAAAAA*

The scream was blaring but showed my attacks were effective. Taking the opportunity presented, I moved to the opposite side of the spider and cut off its remaining legs. Left immobile for a few seconds I cut into the spider’s abdomen before it once again tried to squash me flat. The spider had already made a complete recovery bar its legs that I was constantly cutting off, but its movements were gradually slowing. Left with no opportunity but to desperately try and catch me lacking, my long-legged foe came to a halt after our long battle.

Not seeing a notification, I took zero chances as I cut into the creature’s abdomen before it finally died with one last defiant screech.

If I had made just a single wrong move I would’ve died, but in the end, I came out on top. Looking down, my stomach was shown to the world as a large cut ran through my armour and clothes. The results of my high endurance were on show as the wound was already healed despite it being quite deep, leaving unblemished skin behind the wound was healing unbelievably fast. At this rate it felt like I could become a lizard and regrow limbs.

Noticing the notifications from my status, it was finally time for my first proper skill.

You have Slain:

1 x Grass Spider (Level 10)

EXP Earned

You have Levelled up!

Level 9 > Level 10

+3 Endurance

+1 Vigor

+1 Strength

+2 Free Points

Skill Point Earned!

Ignoring the update to my stats, I went directly to my skill tree.

Unlock Stoic Heart (Common)?

Cost: 1 Skill Point

Mentally signalling yes, a bright light filtered through my vision as a stream of particles went through my chest. A warm feeling overcame me as I felt… full? As if I had just finished eating a good meal? That wasn’t an adequate way to describe the sensation that spread through my body, but it was the only thing that came to mind.

Status

Name: James Burns

Class: Guardian (Tier 1)

Level: 10

Strength: 14 (15)

Dexterity: 14 (18)

Vigor: 19 (22)

Endurance: 26 (31)

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 8

Free Points: 2

Skills (2/5):

- Sturdy Footing (Common)

- Stoic Heart (Common)

Runes (0/1)

And just like that I managed to fill up a second slot in my skill list, the skill in question may be passive and not game-breaking but it was still nice to know I was on my way to getting stronger.

Taking a quick moment to bathe in the pleasant feeling that slowly dissipated, I harvested the spiders’ fangs and threw them in my backpack. So now… Which direction was out of here? During the fight it was impossible to recognise which direction was which, so now I was left stranded in the middle of the grass death-trap with exactly zero idea how to get home… awesome. I tried everything possible to help navigate myself, climbing onto the spiders the only thing I could see was more tall grass in every direction. Trying to adjust my direction based off the sun worked, for about two second before it magically changed position completely ruining my plans.

Without any good options left, I picked a direction and just started walking. Worst case scenario is I walk into a den of spiders ready to tear me limb from limb… that would indeed be very bad.

Sending prayers to every God I knew of; I walked onwards in hopes of returning to safety.

About an hour later I was certain that I was walking in the wrong direction.

During the past hour I had managed to not run into a single other living creature or landmark as I begun counting my steps as my one form of entertainment in the endless sea of grass. I was still on alert for any spiders but just like the Mutts, they had all seemingly vanished as I failed to run into even a single monster.

Close to stopping and picking a different direction, a break in the grass was finally visible just ahead. Without hesitation I burst forward ready to be out of the grass, as a scene I wasn’t expecting played out in front of me.

*SKRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE*

*GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*

Standing in front of me were two groups clearly just moments away from a brawl. On my left was a group of seven spiders each swaying from side to side, looking eager to rip into their opponents. Each of these creatures was at least Level 10 going off their size, but their leader easily beat out even that. Towering even over its large comrades, the screeching spider was massive in every proportion, most noticeably, unlike the others this spider was covered with a thick looking carapace that protected its body. Clearly reaching its next stage of evolution the monster had strengthened its one glaring weakness.

Standing to my right, a group of Striped Mutts let out howls and barked up at their towering opponents. They were all clearly beat out in size, but these Mutts were also practically another species entirely to the ones I had encountered. With bulging muscles, the Mutts seemed primed to explode forward and tear into their opponents that they heavily outnumbered. With 12 of the freakishly large Mutts that now came up to my chest, the fight seemed much more balanced. The alpha of this pack was just like the spiders, and clearly an evolution a head of the others. Replacing its fragile looking skin, it used to slightly control itself through the air, the lone Mutt now had sandy yellow wings clipped to its side. Paired with its large body that dwarfed its pack in comparison, this upcoming fight seemed quite balanced based on first impressions.

Seemingly sick of each other’s taunts, the two groups collided as a cacophony of sounds reverberated through the area. As the Mutts ganged up and dove for any part they could latch onto, the spiders danced around trying to impale the Mutts in retaliation. With such a spectacle in front of me, I had no choice but to submerge myself back into the grass and just wait it out for the time being.

Stepping foot into this chaotic battlefield would mean an instant death, especially if I approached the two duelling alphas of their respective packs who were locked into a fight to the death. Their figures blurred as they moved at a speed only just visible to me, the Mutt flew around the spider’s large body as it looked for a weakness, the spider responded by swatting at the pest who remained just out of reach. The duo continued to probe each other as the fights around them slowly died down, left with a clear victor the creatures clashed properly for the first time as they understood their position.

It was all or nothing, and they both appeared more than eager to stake their lives on this fight.