Six rogues rushed into the Imperial throne room. The Holy Emperor was there on his throne, he was sitting in silence with his hands clasped together and praying silently to the Holy Light.
“I told you he’s busy.” The priestess whispered.
“This cannot wait!” The party leader ran past the guards and to the throne.
The nearby guards stopped the running party by crossing their longswords.
“My Holiness, It is urgent!” He shouted from the distance.
The Holy Emperor let out a deep breath. “Everything is urgent nowadays! What is it you…” He recognised the man. “You’re back so quick?!” He asked suspecting something dreary.
After hearing The Story, the Holy Emperor sighed once again; he was doing it so much it had become a habit. He had sent his best Spies to get to the source of the looming disaster, to get to The Dreaded Place. This was no easy Quest to complete so he equipped them with Imperial treasures, some coming out of his personal vault. And yet the Invisibility Cloaks were rendered inert and the legendary artefact - the Divine Fortress was shattered. Worse, much of their gear came back disenchanted or with lowered quality, clearly an effect of unknown hostile magic.
The spies not only didn’t reach the jungle, the alleged source of the Calamity, but they didn’t even make it into the bordering forest. The ultra-expensive FerryStones were the only thing that saved them, even if they lost valuable artefacts, it was still good that they came back to tell their tale. A harrowing tale that is… A tale of the SuperMassive spider with a whole citadel on its back. The humongous spider by itself was a nightmarish threat, but who knew what sort of horrors were hidden in that citadel as well? Perhaps the Spider King himself?
“If it is coming, we must hurry up!” He slammed his golden sceptre into the ground. “We must summon our Hero!” It was the only choice.
There was more to it of course. The more resources they poured, the greater the summoning circle, the stronger the hero would be. And for the terrible threat of the Giant ‘ENEMY’ Spider, they needed a terribly mighty hero.
“We shall summon the best Hero of them all and I shall see to it personally.” With another slam of his sceptre the Holy Emperor stood up from his golden throne.
“But what of us?” The Spy Party leader asked.
“Can you infiltrate The Dreaded Place without Imperial Treasures?” He gave The Look. “I think not! One of you will accompany the hero as a Rogue and the rest…”
“And the rest?”
“…” The Holy Emperor didn’t reply.
“You shouldn’t have interrupted his prayer.” The Attendant Priestess whispered with a glare to the spies. “I told you not to.”
The spies glared back at the priestess.
“We’re good as dead… What’s even the point?” The still-panicked woman mouthed under her nose.
“Priestess!” The Holy Emperor addressed. “Gather the rest of the attendants, acolytes and anyone capable of magic. We must finish that circle.”
She gave him a beaming smile. “At once, my Holiness!” She practically sprinted out of the throne room.
“And you…” He glared at the spies. “I’ll deal with you later.” He turned to leave.
As if knowing the guards surrounded the rogues.
“But… But we brought essential info.” Another woman stammered.
“But we also failed.” The party leader said the obvious. “Also, he’s doing this so we don’t spread the panic.”
“Oh, I get it now.” Another man replied.
“This is bullshit! Why did I even come?” The still-panicked woman complained.
Soon the Imperial GuardCaptain appeared. “By the imperial order, you are all under house arrest.”
“This is bullshit!!! REEE!”
“Arrest this woman!”
“REEE! We’re all gonna die! All of us! Giant ‘ENEMY’ Spider is coming.”, *Gah!* – she was knocked out by one of her party members.
=====
In the nest-like spidery house, the Spider King was speaking not with a spider but with a centauri. He stood beside a stand-at table, such furniture was made to accommodate the unique Centauri needs, but by no means did he feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
“Would you care for a glass?” The Centauri Assistant didn’t wait for an answer and poured the still-warm Centauri Milk into the glass.
“Thank you.” The Spider King took a sip, it was creamy and delicious.
“Some Centauri Cheese?” She cut a thin slice of white cheese and then spread butter on top.
“Thank you.” It was fatty, but that’s exactly why it was so delicious. “If you don’t mind.” He took some E-Honey out and spread it over the bite. “Heaven!”
“I’ve never seen anyone combine the two. Is it that delicious?”
“Have a try.” He honeyed one of the slices.
“Oh! This is quite something and I’m not even into cheeses. Bareth will love this!” She licked her fingers with the last bite.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“So, where is he? Your husband?” He asked the important question.
“Teaching a class, he’ll be back soon for brunch.” She paused giving him The Look. “Do you think… we can do it? You know… The thing?” She asked with a tinge of embarrassment.
Indeed, this was the very reason he was here on this fine morning, he was here to help the Centauri to conceive.
“With the Monster System, everything is possible.” He said the obvious.
“I’ve been taking Fertility Potion+ and…” Her cheeks flushed red. “We’re doing it whenever we get a chance, but… I’m beginning to lose hope. Please help me!”
There must have been an issue of compatibility, and if so, it was good she called the Monster King to help!
“To get it working, I think Bareth needs to Evolve. It worked for Lady Crimson.”
“I know, that’s why I’ve asked for your help. Bareth is working very hard but…”
“… But it’s not enough.” He finished for her. “He just needs a nudge, a helping hand, that’s it. But also, it wouldn't hurt for you to try to evolve too.”
“Me? But I don’t think Centauri can evolve!”
“You’re right, there hasn’t been a single case yet. However, just a while ago the same was for the Drow right until we got our first Drider, so never say never.”
“Hmm…” She was thoughtful for a moment. “But how do I evolve?”
“That is The Question! It seems I just can’t force Evolve the sapient races, but animals and plants are fine. However,” he raised a finger, “granting a Monster Core seems to help. It’s almost as if it changes something inside the person's body, brings them closer to the Monster System, I guess.” He gave a meaningful look.
“So what you saying is that I should get the core?”
“You and your husband.”
“Then, may I ask you, my King, to grant me one? I shall forever be in your debt.” She bowed deeply.
“I owe you one for the cream pie so there is no debt. Shall we?” He offered his hand.
“Okay, let's do it!” She took it.
The fingers locked and with the, “[Seed Core]”, he began injecting his mana.
The Centauri Assistant squirmed at the sensation and her already flushed face reddened completely.
“…” She was making a funny expression with her face. “A-Ahh!!!” A moan escaped her lips.
From behind, “What the two of you are doing?”, a voice of bewilderment questioned.
“Husband!? Ah! We’re just! Ah! He’s helping us, ah-ah-ah, to get pregnant. Uh-Ahh!!!” With the end of the rather obscene moan, she received a message telling her of her new acquisition.
“Well,” the Spider King turned to look at still bewildered Bareth. “what can I tell… She’s rather sensitive. Your turn!” He offered his hand.
The man in question gripped it and squeezed the royal hand with all might in the world, almost as if he was trying to crush it, but despite all that, “[Seed Core]!”, the Spider King injected his mana.
“A-Ahh!!!” A moan escaped Bareth’s lips.
“Huh?” Bareth’s scream surprised the King. “You’re also sensitive?”
“No! Ah! I’ll… Ah! I will… you and my, ah, wife, ah! A-Ahh!!!” The magic finished its job. “Don’t touch my wife like that ever again!” Bareth yelled still red-faced.
“Bareth! He’s only helping us!” The Centauri Assistant jumped to intervene before this blew up any further. “With Monster Cores we might be able to… you know, get a child.”
“Monster Cores?” The expression on Bareth’s face softened. “Hey, I got that! And I can Evolve!” He let the hand go.
“I’m sorry.” The Spider King looked in puzzlement. “What do you think I was doing?”
“Never mind that! Evolve me! Evolve me now!”
“Bareth!” His wife scolded.
“I’m sorry, I just… With my age and all, I’ve never thought this day would come!”
The old Bareth here had some years accumulated but that had nothing to do with evolutions, and the Spider King was just as excited to see what would they get. With human evolutions you never knew, and that by itself was very exciting.
“The day has come!” He nodded at the man. “I wish you luck in your,” he gave a look to the Centauri Assistant “future endeavours. [Evolve].”
“Oh-hhh!!! Here I go!!!” Bareth yelled just before he began to glow in blinding purple. “Power!!!” The light was shiny and brilliant. “Evolution!!!” And just like always, it finally dimmed. “Yes! I feel twenty years younger. Do I look twenty years younger?”
He didn’t, he was just the old Bareth, but just in case “[Inspect].”
“Oh, Master Bareth… [Inspect]!”
Monster Race:
Corrupted Human
Variant: DarkRider
Magic Affinity: Dark
⚔️
🏇
🛡️
HP:150
MP:100
STA:150
Active Perks
[Dark Cleave], [Spur], [Ride The Storm]
Passive Perks
[Dark Empowered], [Mounted Beastmaster], [We Are One]
Resistances
[Light Weakness: Lesser], [Physical Resistance: Lesser]
“Congrats, you unlocked Dark magic!”
“DarkRider! How fitting.” Centauri Assistant clapped in satisfaction.
“The magic can wait.” Bareth looked at his wife hungrily. “But my new riding perks can’t!”
“Bareth!” She was left once again red-faced.
“I’m sorry, my King, but my duty calls me. I have to go! And do what I must!!!” He jumped right on the Centauri Assistant.
“Bareth?! Neigh!”
“I guess I leave you to it.” The Spider King made himself sparse giving the two much-needed space.
However, even from outside, he could hear, “[Spur]! [Spur!]! [Spur]!”, the DarkRider Bareth was invoking again and again for some reason.
“Neigh!!! Rider, you won’t Tame me so easily!”
“I have Mounted Beastmaster! Mare, you will obey my will!”
“Neigh!”
“[Ride The Storm]!”
“Ah-ahhh!!!”
The Spider King shook his head. “Riding shouldn’t be done in indoor spaces. But each to their own I guess.” He shrugged hoping that they won’t wreck their own place too much.
Next on his list was the tea with his Drow Assistant.