— HP: 33%
I cringed after looking at the little Messenger Spider’s health. He was shivering, indicating he was going to evolve. Apparently, I could see through each of these tiny fuzzy butts’ eyes as if they were my own and their Statuses. The others situated themselves in various places within the mansion, letting me know no one was around. An infection, Attor called it. Still, it was only alive because it would swap places with its Shadow Clone while it recovered its HP. The Shadow Clone disappeared after it crashed into the Library Ward, then it would try again while the Clone recharged. It was persistent, I gave it that, but he was dying. I couldn’t open the Ward either; my hand would bounce off of the door with a zap, but I had a theory. Despite it being classified as a Magic Spell, whoever put it there must be higher than the shivering level 20 Messenger Spider before me. I glanced at the tiny fuzzy butt. What do these guys even evolve into?
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. The highlighted Messenger Spider will evolve into a Body Spider. Congratulations.
A Body Spider? I shuddered. And why do I hear sarcasm in your notification? That means he was right! The prospect of every one of these Messenger Spiders evolving into a Body Spider made me grin with excitement. It really was an infection, spreading its webs along this place. A “human” army, all to myself, huh? I could see them all gathered inside the Ballroom of this silly house, blissfully unaware of the ones watching. I wondered what a group of these humans could do for me? I needed more Messenger Spiders to evolve, that was certain. Soon, I shall outnumber Father and his powerful friends! You just wait…
Attor snorted spiritual mist, interrupting my inner monologue. Don’t be so full of yourself because I agreed with you! I wanted to shriek at him, but the Messenger Spider suddenly burst with light, becoming an even tinier white Spider. My cheeks flushed. You’re so cute and tiny!
“Must enter!” The new Body Spider squeaked, then proceeded to ram himself into the magical Ward again to no avail. I groaned as I scooped him up. I clasped my hand gently over him, but he seemed content to sit on my palm. You’re cute and dim witted! I was too busy doting on the creature to notice the angry thumping approaching me in time.
“You! Not another step closer to those precious quarters! The one time I depart from my Library, who shows up? The mongrel child of his!” A man’s shrill voice shrieked at me. Hm? I turned to face the perpetrator. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be around. “Begone, begone, begone! You do not belong even in this sacred place’s presence!”
He tried to shoo me with a hand, but I ignored him. So this was the one who hurt my dim witted friend here. I folded my arms and inspected his Status.
— Malcom Willster, level 25
— Classes
Human Mage [Common], level 20
Human Sage [Epic], level 5
— Danger Class: A Rank
Debuffs: Beautiful, Mage Crusher, Human Killer, Weakness to Darkness
Servant of Charles Bohun, Malcom protects the Library. He was instrumental in the Staking, providing magical support during his time on the battlefield. Now, he hides away, sequestered inside with his precious books.
“I don’t recall asking you for your input,” I scoffed. Malcom looked at me incredulously, but he managed to hide the Debuffs well. I stamped my feet and put my free hand on the door. “Can you release this Ward or not?”
“Has the stay in the Tower made you mad?” He thundered. “No, I assume you have always been like this. Perhaps I should go report your bastard behavior to Master Bohun and cast you out again. This is a place for reading and civilized folk, not for cretins like yourself. The Half-Elf did not even want to sit you down and teach you basic manners! Now begone!”
“Don’t you ever tire of this treatment?” Attor floated around the man. Malcom looked at me with a foul look on his face. Spittle was flicking out his mouth as he screamed at me. It’s true, I supposed. I have never been spoken to like this in my time as the Demon Queen. It was refreshing, but like all new things time passes and makes them stale.
“You’re right, Attor,” I shrugged. “It does get old after awhile.”
“Who are you talking to? Look at me when you speak, you insolent child!” He rose his hand but paused when I pointed a finger at him. My cheeks and lips twisted into a smile, but I couldn’t help it!
“Sorry, Malcom Willster,” I extended my fingers all the way out. “But this is going to hurt.”
Before he registered my threat and could raise his defenses, I let the Skill activate. Five thin webs launched from my fingertips, letting the satisfying crunch of bones and flesh rending apart sing as they pierced his chest. I wrapped them around his heart and yanked it out. Since Mage Crusher was active, his defenses were lowered enough to shred to red ribbons with the Advanced Web Conjuring. I watched his body start to topple over, but I held it up with a string.
“Unfortunately for you, I have experiments to run and not enough time to learn how to be polite. Now open wide!”
Experience points showered me with their shiny sparks of greens and blues as I plunged my hand in his mouth. The Body Spider knew what to do and crawled inside of him. That little guy will be the new, less rude Librarian! Or perhaps I should give him to Blanche? She’s a Body Spider, she would know what to do with him!
“Ah, don’t you feel better about killing him?” Attor asked me.
“I feel nothing,” I admitted. “No less than killing a bandit. The experience points are nice though.”
“Really,” Attor snorted. “I guess you were a Demon, after all.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Attor. I don’t care for these creatures at all. I see them as… pets. To use for Geer’Sha and Wisdom’s sake,” I conjured webs I dragged him further against the door. “As for our friend here, well, I am just indulging Charlotte’s memories for now. I owe her that much.”
I looked at the webbed body, becoming soaking red from the hole from his chest and realized I felt gross from the slickness on my skin. I only did it because he was rude to me. Do humans feel emotions after killing their enemies? I had his heart in my hand which ceased beating, but nothing in my own heart stirred. I did lose my Human tag, but I couldn’t help but something else was gone too. A notification rang in my head as I looked at the fleshy thing.
— Brewing and Alchemy: Tier 6 Human Heart acquired. Ingredient necessary for crafting poisonous T6 potions. It is also a material for T6 Soul Vase.
It’s an ingredient, huh? And it’s rare. The others I killed were not left intact so I never noticed that a human heart had its uses. Could a Soul Vase be an advanced cauldron of sorts? I stood in thought for a moment. Oh well, I tossed the thing into my bag. I will figure what to use the Human Heart later. For now, I should probably clean this mess up for the servants. It would be rude to leave it like this!
We stared at the gushing body for a moment, I decided to drag him inside the Library with me after putting him in a cocoon. A quick Spick and Span shall clean this all up! My Crystal Wand glowed with those scintillating bubbles. The trail of blood was gone! Light Magic is something! Since this Wing might be abandoned and no one cleans it up anyways I shall be the one who does. The handle was cold to the touch and the wood groaned as I pushed my way in, probably because no soul has touched it since the Ward was placed on it.
A gasp escaped my mouth as I stared at the shelves within. They were towers stretching all the way up to the ceiling, with ladders and tables! Oh, Attor, this place is wondrous! It reminded me of my old Castle’s Study, although not as grand and considerably less demonic. I could work on that! Dust scraped off the empty shelves and smeared my finger as I drew a line across its messy surface. Where are the books, anyways? Attor flew up to the top of one while I scanned the shelves at my height. I could turn into a bird and follow him up there, but I don’t think I could hold this corpse with my beak!
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“Up here.”
A puff of green smoke fluttered from the ceiling. How odd, I mused. The number of books was scarce; Charles must not be one to care for knowledge. Unluckily for him, I disagreed. I needed more knowledge and then the fun shall begin! Skill: Metamorphosis! I cawed. Forget Mister Willster! Here I come! It was time to soar— Hey, that rafter is getting a lot closer than I thought— Gah! My feathers!
The books inside my old castle were not actually like these flimsy ones scattered on the top shelves. They were tablets, translated from the Demon God’s words. Wisdom and I scoured the Realm for all of his Words. They would not be so easily pushed around by my beak like these! I knocked them over too far and together with Attor, we watched the helpless things fall to the ground. Take that, you weak books!
“There’s one left here,” Attor turned his head back. A lonely black book sat on its side behind all of the rest of them.
“A survivor?” I gave a shrill chirp. “Heh, being a bird is fun! I can fit in tight spaces like this! Now open up, black book! Wait, this one is about me! Now, we’re talking. This could hold many important secrets, Attor!”
“Are you sure you don’t just want to read about yourself?”
The Demon Queen Mara
A Demon of enormous strength, the One said to unite the Demon Realm in order to invade our world. In the First Age of War, the Goddess of Light has ordered the holy forces of Man to destroy this great threat before it can rise against us.
How blasphemous! I pouted. I was a poor little Demon Queen, minding my own business before those stupid portals showed up, not the other way around! So what, a little murdering of the Primordials here and there weren't so bad was it? The Hells had to be cleaned up somehow! We did not even know Humans existed when I destroyed the Demon King. A page caught my eye, forcing me to stop my complaining.
Evolution Value and the Demon Queen’s Evil Eye
Evolution Value (EV) is rare amongst Humanity, requiring level 30 to Ascend and reach the HEIGHT OF HEROISM. Today, only 42 humans who reached this state of being have been recorded. Height of Heroism has affected each of them differently, however, most have declined to answer what truly happens when one ascends. Grow your Status and Ascend.
The Demon Queen has successfully been appraised by a member of the Hero’s Party, Ranger Archie, and what he has discovered can only be described as calamitous. The Mara’s Evolution Value were higher than anything we have ever witnessed, allowing her attacks to repel armies by herself. Her accumulated Evolution Value has transcended levels. Her Demon Queen Class also was able to block Archie’s ability to see her full Status. The ability to stop Archie’s Eagle Eye is a testament to the Mara’s power reaching impossible heights or even Divine, and some Light Scholars speculate that the demon has an Evil Eye equivalent in power to the Ranger’s own eye. What is known shall be listed below:
- Her physical and magical capabilities are both far above S+ Rank. The Demon Realm is ablaze with her power, observed to be able to launch spikes and tendrils of Blood Fire at great distances.
- As one would expect, the Demon Queen is supernaturally superior in combat, destroying full elite Holy Forces in seconds while coordinating her troops and stronger demons called Generals.
- Her passive skill is unknown, but it prevents all damage done to her besides the Hero. The Demon Queen has resisted the Shadow Rogue’s True Death Blade, the Light Paladin’s Ultimate Smite, and even the Saint’s Holy Blast. The Light smiles upon Us, for the Hero has been able to strike her down at the Final Hour.
I sighed. Of course I could resist those futile moves. It didn’t mean they were harmless! They hurt like Hell! The hero sliced me away like butter due to this stupid Divine Equalizer Skill! Enough reading! I was feeling cramped up here between the tight shelves and the rafters that dare stand in my flight’s way. I pushed the book away with my foot and noticed a small torn sheet flutter out from its scattering pages. It was drenched in red. Is this blood from the guy I left down there?
“It’s a message,” Attor peered at it from the opposite side of me. I scooted towards it. Let’s see, I squinted at the messy writing. Human letters, repeated one word mostly.
LIES. LIES. SHE HAS LIED. LIGHT IS LIES. ALL LIES. THE FINAL HOUR IS A LIE.
Oh? How ominous! Someone else agrees that this book about me is a lie! I would love to meet them! Perhaps there were fans of mine that weren’t just Spiders in this Realm! This book could prove to be important, so I kicked it down to the pile on the floor. If it doesn’t rip or become ruined, I shall keep it! I awaited its glorious fall and the satisfying thump met my ears. I guess Geer’Sha and Wisdom are watching over me. It survived!
“Perhaps the fan was the Malcom fellow…” Attor peered down at the corpse.
“Oh yeah!” I squawked. We flew down to him. The web was soaked with blood, but I could fix that with another Spell Page! “I should have Blanche clean him up!”
As soon as I transformed back into Charlotte, my clothes and my bag came back as well. How does that work? I think it’s better we don’t know! Attor stared at the body, which occasionally twitched on its own occasionally as the Body Spider did its work. My shadow stirred as I mentioned her name. How punctual! The silver hair enchanted me, rising from the darkness like smoke. Blanche bowed.
“Anything to report?” I asked her.
“The Dungeon hunt is going well, more Adventurers lose their lives within it everyday,” she confirmed. “The creatures we saved from the Man Harvesters, those beast people, have moved in to our Orc’s town and are cooperating with Us. The plans for their consumption are underway, Your Majesty.”
“Consumption?” I asked. For the first time, Blanche’s face looked nervous for a moment as if she was hiding a surprise.
“I-It’s nothing, we just ran into complications and will need your assistance one day,” Blanche sounded like she was protesting, but I only had more questions. That might cause her to break apart, so I decided not to press further.
“I shall take this one back as you requested, Your Majesty,” Blanche bowed again. “He shall oversee the Orc Village with me.”
“Thanks Blanche!” I waved to her as she sank into the ground again with the cocoon. I really have to upgrade my Portal Skill so I could do that! It seemed so convenient to go places in a blink of an eye. A chime rang in my head, making me jump.
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. Malcom Willster’s Soul has improved System User Charlotte’s Portal Skill. Use Skill Points and acquired Souls to further enhance the Skill.
— Skill: Portals [Epic] [Light] is now Rank E.
A Soul? I was left in disbelief. Humans have Souls? It appeared that Portals could be improved by them, but the implications behind that were too deep for me to worry about for now. The Nobles and Bohuns were scattering from the ballroom, so there was little time to ponder the connection between Human Souls and Portals.
“Skill: Mage Link!” I declared. My vision became engulfed by the swirling mana and I prepared the Portal Skill. The Portal’s mana runes appeared above my hands as a cloud of jumbled symbols, but I could sense them becoming more coherent as I concentrated. More of the same symbols flowed through the walls, headed towards a certain area in the mansion. It was a memory, just like the one I experienced from that odd Skill when I met Charle's new wife. The vision appeared to be my room I was stuck in for the time of being here, with the empty pot on the floor. I see, I shivered from all the energy coursing through me. Mana does not seem to stay in one place or time, but connects through everything. I never used the Portals before, but like the Skill: Light, I could try it! My arms and hands shook with blue light. It felt like my whole body was choking!
“Direct your mana with the flow, to the memory of your room,” Attor’s disembodied voice sang with the gushing noise of mana searing my arms. Right, I’ve used almost all of it with those Spick and Span spells I cast. Go, mana! I extended my arms out in a ring. A final rush bolted through me as something screamed into existence before me. After the initial scream, a quiet popping noise settled in my ears and the Mage Link resolved. “Open your eyes, Charlotte.”
“What? Did I pass out?” I cracked one eye open, only to see a window appearing above a large golden ring. Behind it, the view of my bedroom greeted me within its circle. This beautiful glowing thing was truly a portal! “I did it! Ha!”
— Skill: Portal activated.
I tentatively approached it, hearing buzzing and crackling noises from the ring as it idled. It was screaming and touching it hurt, but it was music to my ears as I stepped right through. My feet found wood instead of the red carpet of the library and I was in my room again! Just like that.
“Wow,” I felt lightheaded. “So this is what using a Portal Skill feels like.”
“I think it is because you are out of Mana, Charlotte,” Attor snorted a puff of air at me, shaking me out of my concentration. The snapping and crackling Portal vanished without a trace, but marked its ring in my vision when I closed my eyes.
— Mana Pool: 0%
“Well, I’m beat!” I flopped on the bed. A cold gust rushed over me through the hole I made. I’ll fix that later, but for now I needed to… “Thanks, Attor.”
I heard a grunt from him as his frame manifested, blocking the hole in the wall. The lights went out and I let out one last sigh of relief. Tomorrow I’ll focus on the town, then eventually I’ll use my Portals and bring our Fuzzy Butts to this town for a little visit! Hehe, to hear the humans suffering from the fangs of my Spiders pouring through the portals... That would be most delicious. I drifted off into sleep with a small grin with that comforting thought.