Kona is the last to walk into the cavern and she checks the air behind her with her hand.

"No seal," she informs the rest of us and it's good news.

Plan B stays in the pocket. We take great caution as we ease our way toward the center of a large circular area. There are massive stone pillars holding up shadows overhead, the ceiling not visible even with the magical torches lighting the ground area. Cobwebs decorate the pillars, like a morbid celebration long over. There are large bundles of webbing scattered about and I assume they are the unlucky ones who fed what is in here.

At the center, stands a lone pedestal and it reminds me of an old bird bath, something you see in cartoons but never in real life. We pass by, trying to observe our surroundings including the dark ceiling. Strangely, however, some kind of magic must be casting the darkness because Dawn, Elsbeth, and I couldn't see into it. At the other side of the room we find our first, suspicious thing.

A feint glimmer of golden light peaks out from behind a lazily knit blanket of webbing. A tinge of familiarity colors my thoughts as I get closer to it. The soccer ball sized orb sits in it's nest, it's insides swirl like a slow current.

The memory of my dream stabs me in the mind, the shock evident in my posture as Dawn closes the gap to me, "What is it?"

I shake my head, slowly tasting each letter to make sure they're right, "Not it. She. S… son… sonaso… laria? Sonasolaria?"

The orb immediately brightens to a sparkling amber light. It's shining, but I notice that no matter how bright it is, it's still not casting a shadow or lighting up it's surroundings.

[YOU CAME! YOU REMEMBER ME!]

The "voice" sends us reeling, clutching our heads. As lyrical as it is, it's still like hearing a harp at the highest volume setting, maybe even higher. Somone took a beautifuly ornate system message and bashed us over our heads.

"Easy, Sona-- Can I call you Sonny?"

[Yes! I would like that very much!

[You've come to rescue me!]

I nod, unsure if she could see me do that, "Yes, but first… Where is it?"

I watch the light dim, as if shying away from my words.

"Wait," I search the ceiling shadow once more, motioning the party to flatten against the wall, "Does it have any weaknesses…?"

[Radiant and fire. I think]

I look over at Dawn and point upwards. She nods her head and casts her racial bolt spell, Hellfire. It streaks into the abyss, splashing against the darkness.

A screech of pain echoes from above and a large, bulbous figure drops down slowly and deliberately. The delivery van sized spider abdomen facing us had six ebony legs spread wide as two more released the thread from its spinnerets. As this shadowy nightmare got closer to the ground it spun around, probably so it could get a better look at it's attackers.

"I bet it was planning on getting the drop on us, but then we ruined its suprise by lighting a fire under it's butt," I whisper out loud to everyone, Victoria still maintained her War Party Leader status, since her XP bonus is higher than mine.

"Not it," Dawn says, echoing what I said earlier, "Her."

The bottom half of this creature is most definitely a monstrous spider: large abdomen covered in short barbs, matted hair, and patches of oily liquid; eight long, segmented legs that had the same barbs; and two palps that looked like miniature versions of the legs. The spot where one would expect eight eyes and dripping fangs, instead grew the lithe figure of a female dark elf. Her skin is as dark as tar, her hair is as pale as bone.

With a body that large, one wouldn't expect a creature like her to be so graceful. But, when she touches the ground and severs the thread, she moves toward us without sound or vibration. As if her movement alone wasn't unnerving enough, the figure's arms are crossed and a disgusted grimace darkens her otherwise lovely features. A pair of shortswords dangle from a belt around her waist but she is otherwise naked, her long hair covering most of her. She leans in toward us, still very far from our striking distance, her voice is a hoarse whisper of chittering fury.

"You are the ones who killed my beloved!" The sentence started out as a question, but it sure didn't end as one.

[Spindle, Level 13, Boss Tier 2

[??/??HP, ??/??MP, ??/??SP

[Analyze level too low to discern description]

"You seem smart, it's six against one and, yeah, we killed your bug husband," I put a hand on Dawn's shoulder as she continues to taunt the giant evil spider lady. If she doesn't get me killed today, then it must be a really lucky day for me.

"Easy there, killer."

But the scowl on Spindle's face makes way for something else. She puts on a large, evil smile for her large, evil plan.

She steps back and begins a chant in another language. Four black rings appear beside her.

Kona shouts, trying to ready us, "Those are summoning circles!"

Just as her words end, the rings glow like the torches and four Stalkers manifest and rush us.

"Stick to the plan!" I shout, dragging Dawn along with me as I ran to meet them. Arrows and bolts move in faster than I can and strike each stalker, pulling their aggro for now. Dawn and I rush past them and we perform our battle tested combo of Assassinate (suprise and immobilize), Smite (weakness), Echo Strike (followup), and Smite (encore). It deals a total of 250 damage, before her weapons are even drawn.

I'm rearing back for my next hit when she swings around suddenly and throws me off. While still in the air, I watch Dawn fend off a pair of her legs. Another pair lunges towards me, but I twist between them, grabbing one leg and clawing my way up it.

Spindle and I are crossing blades, when Victoria commands me to cover Dawn. I use my spell to teleport, not wanting to show my back and take an empty swipe at a leg to give Dawn a moment. Spindle dips her front down and resumes our swordfight on the ground, slowly positioning her legs closer to us.

"Healing Light! Shit! I have to get closer!"

"Go!" I capture both of her blades in my claws, causing Spindle a moment of confusion and just enough time for Dawn to fall back.

"Just you and me now, little lady!"

She bares her fangs and belches a plume of purple smoke. I'm already sliding beneath her avoiding her noxious attack and clawing at her underside. I barely get one strike in when her legs extend her out of my reach. Her body jerks down, but thinks better of it. Her hesitation buys me a chance to get her aggro back.

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"Not much MP left," I complain to no one as I teleport on top of her backside.

I go through my list of butt jokes out loud as I slash at the chitinous surface, her upper torso just barely flexible enough to turn and look at me with scorn. I'm currently quoting a certain song about big butts when one of her blades comes flying at me like a spear. I have enough time and space to dodge it, but as I return to work she shifts her abdomen slightly and I notice a strand of shimmering web too late. A chilling-hot piercing feeling buries itself in my back and I roar in pain. I tear the thread running to the sword in my shoulder, and drop to a knee.

I spit out, "You just lost a sword…" And she finally shakes me off.

[Spindle deals 30 piercing damage]

[Debuff: -5 poison/2sec for 10 seconds]

[Ground deals 10 bludgeoning damage]

Stupid hard ground. You've been a pain in my backside for every battle.

I push myself up and check my points (30/74HP, 00/60MP, 28/48SP)

Uh, oh.

I scramble to my feet, completely dazed and poisoned. I haven't been spotted by her yet and activate Stealth, praying that the poison damage doesn't unveil me. I run towards the group as they finish up the last stalker. My head pulses with a burning ache, but I check to see that everyone's HP is still good and they're all over 50%. Spindle is still looking for me when both the stalker and I collapse in front of the girls.

"Ardacen!" It's Victoria screaming in my ear as she helps me up to my hands and knees, the black veins on my skin slowly fading away as the debuff runs its course.

"Sorry, Ard," Dawn apologises as she hits me with a Healing Hands, "Last one for now."

[Heal: +25HP]

(30/74HP) I struggle to my feet, breathing heavily, "Roll… Roll up the Blue Herbs. We'll buy some time. Then… light this bitch up."

I feel someone grab the shortsword, it's Victoria, "Grit your teeth, love."

She yanks the offending metal out of my back and I use my little recovered MP to offset the 3 damage I took from the removal.

"Give me back my blade!"

Victoria jabs me in the side, "Practically begging for it, isn't she?"

I roll my neck left and right, cracking it, "Then let's give it to her."

We sound like two armies colliding, a cacaphony of metal clashing against metal fills the cavern as her legs poke and prod us. However, even I could tell that the position is awkward for her and she wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. I look up at her and see that she didn't plan to do this for long.

"Shadow Explosion!"

A black ring filled with magical runes and formations appears below the three of us and we brace ourselves. The epicenter of the spell, a small shadow sphere, grew fast and washed through us like a ghost, dealing 25 to the others and 13 damage to me, without disrupting us physically.

I'm so close to death and one of the prevailing thoughts in my head is, "I hope I get that spell!"

She raises her hands again and takes in a small breath for her next words when an arrow in the chest, two purple bolts, and a fire bolt disrupt her casting. We hack and tear at her trembling legs until one of them finally cracks and flies off. Another follows it and her posture is thrown off. Spindle's cries are full of sorrow and pain, almost pulling the thoughts of mercy out of us, but we press forward.

Alone against the six of us, she almost stood a chance. Had the Shadow Tria stayed behind with her, there would be no way for us to defeat both of them. If Spindle were able to summon just a few more stalkers, the battle could've tilted in her favor. But as things happened the way they did, her torso slumped forward: pierced, slashed, burned, and broken. Victoria and I are searching for her other shortsword under the rigor-stiffened, standing body.

[Spindle has died!]

[1200+20%XP

[1240XP will be shared among the party]

[1240XP/6 members]

[Received: 207XP]

[Boss slayer! As the last to attack the boss when it died you receive a bonus!]

[120XP, Sash of the Grey Wanderer]

I'm a little disappointed that my Feat didn't activate, but with everything else I just couldn't complain. I receive the second of three pieces of my set and the boss slayer bonus put me within 18XP of level 10! I'm about to equip the sash when I notice little floating specks coming from the ground around us and shove Victoria as hard as I could.

Startled, she cries, "What are you--

[Spindle's corpse crushes you for 200 damage!]

[You died.]

[You lose 20% total XP]

[-296XP]

[Wait for Revival Y/N?]

I choose no, since no one has any kind of item or spell that can bring me back and I'm back in the empty abyss cursing the already dead drider.

Of course the stupid drider had to die like that. It was an obvious trap set up by the game and we fell for it. Well, it fell on me anyway.

I hear a light chuckle and try to look around the darkness. In a spotlight not too far from me stands a figure in a robe. It's face is shrouded, but as I try to approach it I can see that wasn't the case. All of the figure's extremeties and head are completely invisible, just a black robe billowing in a wind only it can feel.

"It fell," the voice sounding more masculine now, "ON you!" It/he laughed a bit harder now.

"Pretty funny, huh?" I get the feeling he gets to see how all the players die and mine must've been good for him to laugh.

"Not particullary," he says and I'm frowning. "Oh, no, your death wasn't funny. What you said was. Trust me, you travelers get the luxury of really creative deaths in this world and I've seen my share already."

I snort a short laugh from my nose, "And you are?" I'm unsure if I should extend my hand, but he keeps his down so I do the same.

"Travelers keep calling me Death, but that is not who I am or what I do. You may call me Azrael. I am a guide."

"That's sounds fun, what kinds of things can you guide me through?"

He waves his hands out and the darkness clears. We're back just inside the mouth of the cave. The sun is slowly ending its journey across the sky, bringing behind it the blanket of night. On the ground where I last slept is the outline of my body.

"Return to the body, and return to life."

"Thank you, Azrael. Um, where would I be if you didn't bring me here?"

His robes slowly fade away, "You really don't want to know. Good luck, traveler."

Ominous. Anyway, I lie down in my outline and feel my breath sucking back into my lungs as I lunge forward back to life. I'm no longer in the party and my HP, MP, and SP are all at one. Not only that, but the stupid spider broke all of my improvised gear except the mask and my ring. The sash was in my storage at the time, so I'm glad it didn't get crushed too. Sluggish, naked, and hazy, I wait the eight seconds for my points to regenerate.

[Reputation +100 With Kona Cafe]

[Reputation +100 with Elsbeth Trusco]

[Reputation +100 with Ramona Violetta]

[Reputation +400 with Victoria Grandersil]

[Reputation increased to Respected]

Whoa. Thats a big jump. That must've been because I saved Victoria. I wonder how they'll act around me now. In the mean time I check my level status and see that even though I dipped below 9’s XP leveling limit, I still maintain my earned level. It just makes it that much harder to get to the next one. I remember that Minor Survival Skill is supposed to level up at 9 and check it out. Last time its level up was silent and this time it's the same.

[Minor Survival Skill III(2MP+2SP)

[Heal 5HP

[Reduce poison effects by 3 per sec

[Create a small spark, deals no damage

[Purify up to 2 gallons of water or 10 pieces of meat

[Produce 3 bedrolls and pads that last 12hrs/dismissed

[Produce a 3 person tent, fully set up

[that lasts 12hrs/dismissed

[Produce 25ft of hempen rope. permanent. Recharge: 2hrs

[Able to make upgraded improvised class gear from non metal material:

[Simple weapons, simple artisan tools, certain armor, and shields

[Activate Analyzer Feat

[Next level up: 14]

I didn't get a monster skill, but this upgrade is really something else. Every aspect of it is minor, but useful in so many ways. I'm excited to see what "upgraded improvised" gear is going to be like, but it's going to have to wait. Not only that, but I can finally analyze things.

[Apprentice Analyzer: Able to discern details of a target up to 5 levels above self.

[HP/MP/SP of targets up to 10 above self

[Discern details of objects and materials

[up to apprentice rank.]

I want to sit and analyze everything like some strip mall psychiatrist. Just another thing on the shelf, I suppose. After a few moments of thinking, I decide to first put three points into Arcane, bringing it up to 25. Then, for the first time I put points into something other than Dexterity or Arcane. One went into MP regen and the other into SP regen, bringing both to 4/sec. I silently jog to the cart with all the bug parts from the first attack and clear out my inventory. I grab a spare wolf pelt, tunic, pants, and shoes and cover my bare butt.

It looks like Victoria gave some people instructions to gather more herbs because there are massive piles of them. Seeing them, I check my notifications and, yes, using and teaching the improvised potion ability sent my Alchemy jumping up from 3 to 5, unlocking some recipes.

[Minor Health Potion: 15*Red, water,

[5MP to activate/

[Create Minor Health Potion, 20HP]

[Minor Mana Potion: 15*Blue, water,

[5MP to activate/

[Create Minor Mana Potion, 20MP]

[Minor Stamina Potion: 15* Yellow, water,

[5MP to activate/

[ Create Minor Stamina Potion, 20SP]

There are piles of pelts and bits and pieces, but I get the feeling the others are waiting for me so I use my Assassinate skill to skip forward a few times and run through the dark cave thinking of my growing list of things to do.