THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! The rhythmic pounding reverberated through the cavern, rupturing the tranquility of Sebas's slumber and sending a chill down his spine. Panic surged through him as he jolted awake, his arachnid form scrambling to its feet. Disoriented and alarmed by the sudden intrusion, he swiftly flattened the egg beneath him and exclaimed, "What in blazes was that sound?" Realizing the source drew nearer with each thunderous beat, a sense of urgency gripped him.

With limbs trembling, he struggled to regain his composure, wriggling left and right until he managed to stand upright and shift his footing. His myriad eyes scanned the dim surroundings, urgently seeking refuge from the impending danger. Spotting the silhouette of a nearby pillar, he dashed towards it, heedless of the pristine eggs strewn in his path.

Upon reaching the perceived sanctuary of the pillar, he leaned against it with a mixture of relief and trepidation, only to freeze as it began to stir. "I've chosen the wrong pillar," he muttered, heart pounding. Suddenly, four resounding thuds echoed behind him, a fresh wave of fear washing over him. Slowly, he turned, his eyes widening at the sight of a colossal arachnid looming over him.

"It seems this may be the end of my journey. Farewell, world, farewell to me..." he whispered, tears welling up. Yet, to his astonishment, the towering arachnid emitted a soft screech and gently patted him with her pedipalps before continuing on her way, deftly avoiding the eggs in her path.

As he remained paralyzed with fear, unable to move for what felt like an eternity, he eventually breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring, "Thank goodness I'm still alive." Glancing up to where the giant arachnid had vanished into the darkness, he pondered its nature with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Refocusing on his surroundings, he resumed his journey towards the pillar he had initially sought. Despite his quivering limbs, he pressed on, resolute in his quest for refuge and safety.

Upon reaching the pillar, he circled around it, scouring for a concealed alcove. As he maneuvered, he inadvertently crushed an eggshell, signaling a nearby unknown hatchling. With a grave expression, he surveyed the area and noticed a small aperture amidst the debris.

"Leave," a soft voice cautioned from within the hole. He smirked, retorting, "And what if I choose not to?" with a brash demeanor. A tense silence ensued before a figure emerged from the orifice, brandishing a warning with its appendages. Dismissing the encounter with a disdainful expression due to their difference in size, he continued towards the pillar, ignoring the shouts of "Coward!" that followed.

As he reached the pillar, Sebas noticed a sparkling light hidden within the silk. Investigating further, he discovered a glowing blue rock, his reflection staring back at him. "Who's that handsome fellow? Oh, it's just me," he joked, only to realize that his appearance had changed. His body was darker now, with a hardened exoskeleton and sharper claws. His sharp mandibles shone in the reflection, and his eyes sparkled intensely back at him in the glowing blue rock—a transformation that left him both amazed and bewildered.

"What transpired during my slumber? Hm... perhaps, I should try out this bad boy," he mused aloud, flexing his newly transformed claw. Slashing mid-air, he accidentally pierced the silk covering the pillar, becoming more intrigued by its sharpness and potential. Slashing the wall experimentally, he discovered its penetrative capabilities, prompting him to carve a cavity within the pillar. Driven by primal instinct, he continued his digging, leading him to carve out a hole in the pillar.

As he dug, more pebbles fell and tumbled down to his feet. He pulled out some stones from the pillar debris, then pushed them out from the pillar’s hole, clearing the debris. A sense of purpose guided his actions. Further exploration unveiled his pedipalps' ability to produce silk, which he utilized to fortify the cavity's entrance, fashioning a secure hideaway with a door crafted from silk and rubble. With a sense of accomplishment, he marveled at his newfound abilities and the sanctuary he had fashioned within the cavern's depths.

He hoisted the door of his refuge, supported by silk, as it descended gradually, sealing shut. Stepping outside to catch his breath, he spied the small arachnid from earlier in the distance. "What brings you here?" he called out, hoping for a response. Adjusting his query, he asked, "What's your name?" After a moment of silence, the arachnid emerged cautiously from its hiding spot.

"What moniker do you bear?" he reiterated, more insistently this time.

The arachnid hesitated before disclosing, "Rock."

Acknowledging its presence with a nod, Rock approached him slowly, step by step, with caution. He spoke to Rock in a low tone to avoid scaring the approaching arachnid, "Fear not, I pose no threat." Rock approached tentatively, step by step, eyeing him warily. The arachnid named Rock sat by his side and looked at the hole from where it came. Speaking softly to allay its concerns, he said, "Can you move aside slightly?" As Rock complied, a sudden realization dawned upon him—they spoke simultaneously:

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"What's your name?" Rock inquired.

"Can you step back a bit?" he asked.

Perplexed by the synchrony, they exchanged puzzled glances, pondering the implications of their interaction for their budding relationship or potential conflict.

"Hey! I asked you your name!" Rock's voice broke the silence, its tone tinged with impatience.

Startled by the sudden outburst, Nameless shook himself out of his reverie. "Huh? Oh, uh, my name... well, it's on the tip of my tongue," he stammered, struggling to recall. "It's odd; I should be able to say it."

Sensing his dilemma, Rock offered a suggestion, "How about 'Nameless'? Since you can't remember your name."

Confused by how fast the pacing of their closeness grew just like that even though they had just met a few minutes ago, he was bemused by this unexpected moment and just accepted it with defeat. He felt like he was being owned by this arachnid.

A wry smile crossed Nameless's features at the mysterious allure of the suggestion. "Nameless... I'm Nameless, the enigmatic arachnid," he declared with a hint of amusement.

Their gaze turned towards the enveloping darkness, the dim light casting long shadows around them. As time trickled by, silence enveloped the space once more, punctuated only by the faint rustle of silk and the occasional echo in the cavern's depths.

Recalling the information stored in his screen, Nameless attempted to access it with his thoughts, prompting the device to hum to life with a soft ping. Perusing the "encyclopedia" section, he encountered several boxes adorned with question marks. One of them bore the label "Arachnarch," prompting him to tap it. A summary of the Arachnarch details appeared, accompanied by images and descriptions of various stages of its lifecycle. However, most of the images were obscured by black voids, indicating levels he had yet to attain. Disheartened by the familiar message indicating insufficient level, Nameless muttered, "Always the same; 'You have not yet acquired the required level.' What's the point of this screen if it's rigged from the start?" Frustration creased his brow as he glared at the device. "If only it could provide more guidance on its usage."

Rock's sudden appearance beside the glowing screen startled Nameless momentarily, but he quickly welcomed its presence. Enthralled by the enigmatic symbols adorning the screen, Rock voiced curiosity about its origin. Nameless, at a loss for an explanation, improvised, "It's a unique skill of mine that I can only use." Bewildered, Rock gazed at the screen, transfixed by its mystique.

As time elapsed, the two formed a bond akin to siblings, seated at the entrance of Nameless's sanctuary while he perused his newfound "stats."

Racial Skill: Backstab…, Leap…, Dig…

!@#!$!$!#@^&^

!#^&^#&%@%$

Stats:

Health: 20

Mana: 5

Strength: 8

Agility: 1

Intelligence: 6

Rock leaned closer to the screen, pretending to examine it with genuine interest. They nudged Nameless, subtly hinting at potential uses for his abilities and the information stored in the device. Nameless, oblivious to their hidden agenda, eagerly shared his thoughts and observations, unaware that he was being subtly manipulated. Rock's gaze lingered on Nameless's screen, their curiosity palpable. "What's that you're looking at?" they asked, feigning innocence, their eyes flicking back to Nameless.

Nameless glanced at the screen, then at Rock, hesitant. "Just some... information," he replied vaguely, a flicker of suspicion crossing his mind.

Rock's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Information? About what?"

Nameless hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just... things," he muttered, his attention returning to the screen.

Unsatisfied with his response, Rock pressed on. "But what things? Can I see?"

Nameless hesitated, torn between secrecy and Rock's persistent curiosity. "It's not really... uh, interesting," he replied evasively, hoping to deflect their attention.

But Rock wasn't easily dissuaded. "Oh, come on, let me have a look," they insisted, edging closer to the screen.

With a sigh, Nameless relented, allowing Rock a glimpse of the screen. As they leaned in, their eyes widened with fascination, their fingers hovering over the surface. "Wow, this is amazing," they exclaimed, their voice filled with awe.

Nameless watched them closely, a sense of unease gnawing at him. "It's just a... thing," he muttered, unconvinced by their sudden interest.

But Rock was undeterred, their gaze fixed on the screen. "I've never seen anything like it," they continued, their tone eager. "Do you think it could help us?"

Nameless hesitated, unsure of what Rock was getting at. "Help us?" he repeated, a note of suspicion creeping into his voice.

Rock nodded eagerly, their eyes shining with excitement. "Yeah, like... help us survive down here. With whatever's out there," they explained, gesturing to the darkness beyond.

Nameless regarded them with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What do you mean?" he asked, his interest piqued despite himself.

Rock shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of mischief in their eyes. "I don't know. But it's worth a shot, right?"

Nameless hesitated, unsure whether to trust Rock's motives. But as he looked into their earnest gaze, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. "I guess it couldn't hurt," he conceded, returning his attention to the screen.

As they huddled together, poring over the mysterious device, Nameless couldn't shake the feeling that Rock was hiding something. There were moments when Rock's expressions seemed too calculated, too rehearsed, as if they were playing a role rather than being genuine. And yet, whenever Nameless tried to confront Rock about his suspicions, they would deflect with ease, charming their way out of the conversation with a smile or a clever remark.

Despite his misgivings, Nameless couldn't bring himself to push Rock away. There was something about their presence that made him feel whole, as if he had finally found a kindred spirit in this desolate underworld. And so, he continued to trust Rock, even as the whispers of doubt grew louder in his mind.

Little did Nameless know, their exploration of the screen would lead them down a path neither could have anticipated. As they delved deeper into the mysteries of the device, they would uncover secrets that would change the course of their journey forever. But for now, Nameless was content to bask in the warmth of Rock's company, oblivious to the shadows lurking just beyond the light.