Chapter 7 – A Potentially Bad Idea_Dark Summoner

Chapter 7 – A Potentially Bad Idea

After looting the altar chamber, we decided to head toward the large cavern where my remaining undead squad was positioned. ‘Man having undead minions is convenient. They never get tired and remain vigilant. I can see why necromancers could be popular.’

As we walked out, I was struck with an idea. “Hey, Pinky, what if we trip the trap on purpose? Think it might bring new victims, I mean enemies our way?”

‘Wow, Pinky’s way of thinking might be rubbing off on me.’ I considered with my recent comment.

“It is possible, master. The guardians have been defeated but triggering the trap might bring others for us to snack on.” Pinkoria gave her two cents.

“Hmmm, let me summon more skeletons just in case.” I said as I began casting.

I decided to summon 15 skeletons. That would give us a total of four squads to work with. I was a bit winded from the chain-casting. Luckily my mana regeneration was high enough that I did not really need to stop, bad thing for me is it gave one heck of a headache!

‘I probably should practice this as a mental exercise to avoid the mana fatigue I feel right now.’ I thought as I finished the last casting.

Using what we found in the chambers and in the various tombs, I was able to kit out my four squads with more than just clubs. Some sported armor, some held swords or spears, and a few held bows. It did not take too long to get my four squads geared.

I positioned two squads on the side heading to the large cavern and the remaining two facing the other direction. Pinkoria climbed up to the ceiling and prepared her web attacks. When everyone was in position, I snapped the spider’s silk connected to the trap.

Hearing what sounded like a set of gears moving before we heard a loud gong coming from inside the chamber.

“Well, that for sure would’ve woken the guardians if we had not already defeated them.” I said before focusing my hearing down each tunnel.

Switching to the multiple views of my minions was something I was still getting used to. I saw movement from the cavern first. A squad of five Fledgling Cave Spiders came from deeper in the cavern and rushed towards the tunnel entrance. In addition to that squad, I saw two larger cave spiders trailing behind them.

I instructed my first squad by the entrance to blend in with the shadows and strike when they pass by them. My plan and hope were banking on the fact that my forces are undead and would not automatically trigger the spiders. If my minions did not move, they might not trigger any of the spiders’ senses until it was too late.

Just before the spiders entered the tunnel from the cavern my other two squads on the opposite side picked up movement. Another five Fledgling Cave Spiders and larger cave spiders were coming within range from the other side of the tunnel.

I mentally let Pinkoria know what was happening even though I was pretty sure she could see what I did. Hey, I was nervous, so give me a break. “Pinky, get ready. Classic pincer movement incoming.”

Pinky mentally sent back, “Master, what do you mean? Pincer movement?”

I replied quickly as I prepared myself and my squads to attack. “Pincer as in they are attacking from two sides. Like an animal’s claw closing in on its prey.”

“Oh, now I understand master. We should have used this tactic.” Pinkoria stated.

“We are, just with a few more steps. That and using two claws.” I mentally sent back.

The spiders sent from the cavern finally passed my squad that was laying in hiding. As soon as the spiders passed my squad they were attacked from behind by my minions. When this happened, I sent my other two squads in that side of the tunnel to move in and attack from the other side, AKA pincer attack number one.

I could hear the skittering and see the hisses as my minions hit them with clubs. Making a point to keep an eye on the whole battle, I watched the other side of the tunnel as those spiders passed by my first squad on that side.

We repeated the pincer move as my two squads attacked from both sides. Mentally I told Pinky, “That’s pincer attack number two.”

My three squads near the cavern entrance were doing quite well against their seven opponents. Three of the Fledgling Cave Spiders were already dead, and I had only lost one skeleton.

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 10 Fledgling Cave Spider! +500 experience!

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

My two squads on the other side were not doing half bad either as they were better equipped with stronger armor and more improved weapons. Those squads had taken out two Fledgling Cave Spiders but had yet to lose one squad member.

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 11 Fledgling Cave Spider! +600 experience!

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 10 Fledgling Cave Spider! +500 experience!

“Pinky, which group do you want?” I asked.

She was watching my minions and already moving on the ceiling, heading towards the tunnel near the cavern. “I will kill the ones by the cavern. They are struggling with the Mature Cave Spider units.”

“Very well, I will finish off the other group and join you.” I said as I kicked off the ground sprinting in the opposite direction.

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 10 Fledgling Cave Spider! +500 experience!

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 8 Fledgling Cave Spider! +350 experience!

Congratulations! Your minions have killed a level 10 Fledgling Cave Spider! +500 experience!

When I arrived one skeleton was down, and another wasn’t doing so good as it was missing an arm. The Fledgling Cave Spiders were all dead. The only spiders left were the two Mature Cave Spiders.

I wanted to be smart about this, so I took a moment to assess my targets. I stared intensely at the remaining enemies to get some information about my opponents.

Mature Cave Spider

Level: 24

Description: Mature cave spiders are fully grown. They have gained more control over the venom in their bite making it deadly in the right quantities. Attacks can range from jumping, bites, piercing attacks from their sharper front legs, and shooting web attacks. Mature Cave Spiders are also known for charging in and stunning their prey from the impact of the hit.

Mature Cave Spider

Level: 25

I charged an Ice Lance, focusing it into a sharp point, and activated Misty Step. I appeared right behind the level 25 Mature Cave Spider. Not giving the spider, a chance to react, I released my Ice Lance right under its rear thorax causing the spider to slow.

Using my bronze sword in my other hand, I slipped under the spider and stabbed up, aiming for a frozen joint between one leg and the thorax. The Ice Lance had already weakened the spot making it easier to punch right through with my blade. The spider let out a sound of pain and rage.

HIISSSS!

Keeping up my barrage of attacks, I activated Misty Step again. This time I teleported on top of the spider. Casting a Dark Bolt into the face of the level 24 spider as I stabbed down into the eyes of the level 25 spider, I was now on top off.

My minions broke off their attacks on the level 25 Mature Cave Spider to swarm the level 24 spider while it was distracted from the damage Dark Bolt did to its face. One of my skeletons stabbed into the left side of the level 24 spider while the other stabbed from the right. Both spiders succumbed to their wounds shortly after and collapsed to the ground.

Congratulations! You have killed a level 25 Mature Cave Spider! +6,400 experience!

Congratulations! You have killed a level 24 Mature Cave Spider! +5,600 experience!

Congratulations! You are now Level 9! +2 to Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Mind, and Spirit, +10 Free Stats points to distribute.

I sent my remaining minions to go aid Pinky and my other units. While they headed out, I activated my Raise Dead ability twice to gain two undead Mature Cave Spiders to my army. I wanted to make sure we had some heavier hitters just in case. If nothing else, they could guard our backs.

I ordered one of my undead spiders to explore the tunnel up ahead to make sure we weren’t attacked from behind when we head to the cavern entrance. The second undead spider I ordered to collect and drag what they could of their fallen comrades to the cavern as I headed in that direction.

——AT THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE TO THE CAVERN——

Pinkoria arrived to join the conflict and rip the foolish spiders who dared to challenge her master.

One of the Mature Cave Spiders slammed a skeleton against the tunnel wall so hard it shattered into pieces. Pinkoria used that moment to drop from the ceiling onto the back of said spider. The Mature Cave Spiders stood about one and a half meters tall, whereas Pinkoria was a good two meters tall, and her chitin was far superior.

Pinkoria silently dropped from the ceiling easily piercing the head of the Mature Cave Spider with one of her front legs, killing the spider instantly.

“You shall make a nice snack!” Pinkoria said as she jumped from the now dead spider onto the back of the other mature spider.

This time the Mature Cave Spider was able to move out of the way, so Pinkoria landed on a Fledgling Cave Spider, ending its life just as quickly.

Pinkoria heard skittering coming from the cavern and she saw through her master’s minions that another squad of five Fledgling Cave Spiders and two Mature Cave Spiders were approaching fast from the cavern. She informed her master of the incoming danger. She knew he was still getting used to all the sensory input from having so many minions.

“Master, we have another squad incoming.”

Pinkoria refocused her attention to the Mature Cave Spider in front of her, she darted to the side but feigned an attack to the right. The cave spider moved to block her attack, putting it in perfect position for one of the few skeletons with a spear in this squad to Pierce its side deep.

“Hahaha, fool! You are so busy paying attention to my magnificence that you forget these minions can bite too!”

Another skeleton stabbed with a sword before the spider could recover. Now sluggish and shifting its attention to the skeletons who hurt it, the cave spider did not see Pinkoria’s attack in time. She pierced its eye cluster killing it quickly. The mature spider was the last unit alive from the original group, all the others were finished off during Pinkoria’s fight.

This death was just in time as the new enemy squad joined the battle.

“Fresh meat!” Pinkoria called out.

For some reason the cave spiders briefly paused their assault when they heard Pinkoria. After that brief respite, they shifted all their attention to attacking Pinkoria. It was clear they were trying to kill the rival spider queen.

“Master, the rival spider queen now knows I am here. She will instinctively try to end me as a threat.” Pinkoria explained to her master.

“I sent one of my new undead mature spider minions to check the other end of the tunnel. Nothing there other than a collapsed tunnel so no more enemies coming from that way. I’m already on my way with re-enforcements.” Arch-E replied.

Chapter 7 – A Potentially Bad Idea

目录