Chapter 9: The Mindweaver's Call
[Skill Evolution: Descent of Primus ???]
The connection to the ancient bloodline has strengthened. Evolving…
Cruz waited for another notification, but nothing came. A gnawing sense of unease settled in his stomach. Perhaps he was expecting too much too soon. The spiders, now snapping out of their daze, began to advance, their beady eyes glinting with malice.
Suddenly, a small wave of fear coursed through him. With a chorus of hisses, they launched their attack, weaving through the darkness toward him. Cruz instinctively activated [Earth Sense], feeling the vibrations of their skittering legs against the cave floor.
As the first spider lunged, he barely managed to dodge its assault, narrowly avoiding the [Venomous Sting] that followed. The venom's mild toxicity could sap his strength and make him more susceptible to their mind-altering abilities, but he wouldn't go down easily. With swift precision, Cruz lunged forward, his dagger flashing in the dim light. He sliced through the air, cleaving one spider in half. Its bitter juices splattered against his skin, mixing with the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Cruz fought fiercely, each movement an elegant dance of survival. He could feel the tide of spiders swarming around him, their numbers overwhelming. They came at him from every direction, but the earth was his ally. With each step, he sensed their movements, positioning himself strategically to counter their attacks. The first wave crashed against his defenses, but he fought back, striking again and again, blood and ichor painting the ground.
Yet, for every spider he dispatched, two more seemed to take its place. He was beginning to tire. [Earth Sense] guided him, but his stamina was wearing thin. He couldn't afford to get caught in their web again. Every ounce of focus he had was devoted to dodging and countering, but the sheer number of foes was relentless.
A sudden surge of exhilaration washed over him, igniting a spark deep within his bloodline. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, urging him to keep fighting. With every swing of his dagger, he felt himself heal—slightly, but it was enough. The system panel flickered to life with a new stat:
Vitality: 7
He smiled grimly. He was battered but alive, and the prospect of emerging victorious filled him with renewed determination. He needed to hold out just a little longer.
Then, a piercing shriek echoed through the cave, sending shivers down Cruz's spine. He looked up, his breath catching in his throat. A massive head emerged from the shadows ahead, its eyes gleaming with intelligence and rage.
[Mindweaver Arachnid – lvl ??]
You have encountered [Mindweaver Arachnid].
Cruz gasped, the sight overwhelming him. The sheer size of the creature was terrifying; it dwarfed the other spiders, its sleek body glistening in the faint light of the cave. The enormous arachnid scanned the area, its mandibles clicking ominously. The air thickened with a palpable tension as it seemed to call for its kin.
Fear gripped Cruz, and instinct kicked in. He moved closer to the edge of the cave, staying completely still and silent. He could feel the creature's probing gaze scanning the space where its children had fallen, a wave of energy emanating from its eyes. It was searching for something.
As the Mindweaver surveyed the carnage, it emitted another ear-splitting shriek. The sound reverberated through the cave, washing over Cruz like a cold wave. It left him momentarily stunned, his vision blurring as he blanked out. Darkness swallowed him for a heartbeat.
In that abyss, haunting visions overwhelmed him. He relived moments of loss: his father's warm smile fading into horror as the gates opened; his sister's scarred face twisted in anger; the fragility of his mother as she succumbed to mana sickness. Each image was punctuated by the cold, clammy hands of death, creeping ever closer, eager to claim him. The fear gnawed at his mind, clawing at the edges of his sanity. It was as if the Mindweaver's shriek had reached into his soul, amplifying his deepest regrets and pains, drowning him in a tempest of sorrow and guilt.
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When his senses returned, the enormous silhouette loomed before him, seemingly having teleported from its previous location. The air felt charged with an unnatural energy, and Cruz's heart raced.
Panic gripped him as he quickly assessed his options. The Mindweaver was formidable, and he was already fatigued from the battle with its offspring. He needed to act quickly, but fear paralyzed him momentarily.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and activated his Identify skill once more.
[Mindweaver Arachnid – lvl ??]
Vitality: ??
Strength: ??
Agility: ??
Endurance: ??
Mana Capacity: ??
Fear Aura: ??
The information remained elusive, but the creature's power was evident. Cruz had no idea how to defeat such a beast. He remained silent, waiting for it to pass. The towering arachnid lingered for a while, scanning the area with its piercing gaze. The blood spattered from its offspring seemed to cover Cruz, acting as a cloak of protection, allowing him to escape death once more.
Finally, the Mindweaver retreated, slipping back into the shadows of the cave. Cruz heaved a sigh of relief, but there was no time to waste. He turned and ran, desperate to return to the safety of the rhino cave, where he had last felt secure.
As he sprinted through the winding passages, he relied on Earth Sense to guide him. The vibrations of the ground beneath his feet felt alive, urging him forward. He could sense the tremors of smaller creatures scuttling away from him, a clear sign that the cave was still teeming with life, but he had no time to dwell on them. He was focused solely on finding an escape route.
His mind raced as he glanced at his stats, the flickering system panel illuminating the darkness around him:
Name: Cruz Hernandez
Race: Human
Class: None
Abilities:
[Descent of Primus – Rank F??]
Skill Type: Causality Manipulation
Effect: User can accelerate or decelerate the flow of time around a target for a short duration.Description: ?????
[Identify – Rank F]
Skill Type: Knowledge/Observation
Effect: User can discern basic information about an object, creature, or entity, including its name, type, level, and basic attributes. This skill helps the user assess potential threats and strategize accordingly.
Weak Quakehorn Titan Bloodline – ???
[Earth Sense – Rank F]
Skill Type: Environmental Awareness
Effect: User can sense vibrations and disturbances in the earth, allowing detection of nearby terrain features, hidden pathways, and the presence of creatures within a limited radius. This skill provides awareness of environmental shifts and helps locate hidden dangers or resources underground.
Health and Resources:
Health Points (HP): 22/40
Mana Points (MP): 30/30
Stamina: 9/35
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Toughness: 6
Wisdom: 2
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 7
Vitality: 7
He felt a swell of determination at his stats; they were low, but they had improved through each fight. The bloodline within him pulsed, a reminder of the strength he had yet to unlock.
Cruz's breath quickened as he approached the cavern where he had faced the Stonehide Rhino. It felt like an eternity since he had left that space, but he could feel the familiar vibrations of the earth guiding him. He was almost there.
Just as he rounded a corner, a chill ran down his spine. The air felt different—thicker, charged with something ominous. He skidded to a stop, peering into the vast darkness ahead. Something was waiting for him.
Before he could react, shadows coalesced, and more spiders began to emerge from the depths, their eyes gleaming with hunger. The swarm rushed toward him, and panic surged through him again.
He didn't have time to fight. He had to escape. Using every ounce of strength, he dashed into the darkness, relying on Earth Sense to navigate the treacherous terrain. The walls of the cave seemed to close in around him, the echoes of his heart pounding in his ears.
"Not again," he whispered to himself, pushing his limits. The shadows of the cave loomed ominously behind him as he sprinted, determined to find his way to safety. The only thought in his mind was escape—away from the clutches of the Mindweaver and its spawn. Each step echoed with the promise of freedom as he raced toward the light that marked the entrance, his heart set on survival.