~~~Blake~~~
Angelica's fire enchant is really useful, I was able to make use of its cutting power to carve a footing on the hard rock. If I were to use a normal sword, I was sure that it wouldn't be able to create a dent deep enough for me to even step on and without this, I may not have been able to pursue them.
As I went up the ceiling I saw the spiders enter a hole. We didn't see it earlier because the light from Angelica's crystals wasn't able to reach high enough. Also, the hole was obscured by a small patch of rock like a balcony looking down the farm tunnel, so even if you looked at it from below you wouldn't notice it until you go up the ceiling.
When I entered the hole it goes up vertically... still, I followed the spider nearby, moving slowly and steadily towards it using the protruding rocks as jumping platforms. I learned this technique when I was observing Steven as he fought with the orc king.
As I jumped closer, the spider used its thread to stop me, but I hacked away with it using the fire-enchanted jian. Seeing what it did was useless it pointed its back at me.
(Pew!)
"?!' [Blake]
On its bottom shot out a sharp stinger, I tried to cut it mid-air like what Angelica does, but my hand was bound by a strand of web. I was only able to dodge it in time by barrel-rolling in the air. Luckily, it seemed that it only has one, but because of that, the spider had once again covered quite a distance.
"Dammit! If I only had another weapon that I could throw at it..." [Blake]
As it got further away, there was a glow of orange and yellow light on the cocoon of web. I could see the spider struggling to get it off as the fire burned one of its legs. When it was finally able to remove itself, I could see the fiery light falling towards me.
~~~Angelica~~~
Shit... I cannot move... everything happened so fast, but I was able to piece it together.
When the flash had faded, the spider jumped at me and bit me in the arm with its fangs. The fangs were hellishly huge like an oversized syringe and it sure was painful. Before I could make my counterattack, a numbing sensation covered my body, it then grabbed me and spun its web.
Despite being paralyzed I can still power up the crystal with it being in close proximity to my pocket. Enjoy getting burned!
As the crystal glowed my clothing begun to be encased in fire. From inside of the cocoon I could hear the spider as it shrieks in pain as the flame slowly ate away at its web.
Hahahahaha! Serves you right!
This imbued magic crystal is similar to what we use in my towels at the bath, where it covers the towel in a warm flame to make it dry faster while also preventing the user from getting cold. The only difference is this one to burns anything it touches, except the user.
I had wanted to incorporate this into our snow clothing, but when I did, you would sink a few feet down and be stuck or trapped when you walked on layers upon layers of snow. Also, I'm afraid that if you unknowingly walked into a deep crevice you can break something or possibly lose your life from falling into them.
When I was able to finally see out of the cocoon, the spider had dropped me...
As it did. I used Maria's crystal with the spell •Detoxify• I was able to move my limbs a little, yet it was still not enough to fully eliminate the effects of the spiders venom.
Still somewhat paralyzed. I cannot hold on to the exposed rocks nor change my position. I was in a freefall...
Am I just going to go splat on the ground? That won't be a pretty sight...
Then, I was suddenly caught by something. When I turned to look, it was Blake who was hanging by his jian, which was stuck in the rock. But my clothing is still in flames.
"Blake?! You'll be burned!!" [Angelica]
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"It's... alright..." [Blake]
Even with my quick reaction, I wasn't able to turn off the crystal fast enough.
When I was examining Blake, I had a whiff of the awful smell of burnt flesh, the burns on his chest and arms were so severe that I could see him struggling to hold onto me and the sword.
I clung to him in order to reduce the pain in his arm and immediately used my novice level •Heal• which barely did anything...
I quickly fumbled to find my waist bag for the crystal which has Maria's regular level •Heal• but it was not there?! Did I lose it during the fall?!
My hand is starting to slip... with a worried expression, I looked at Blake.
"Blake... let go..." [Angelica]
"No!" [Blake]
He has a much greater chance of living if he let go. Me being paralyzed had little chance to...
"If you don't we'll both die!" [Angelica]
"I am never letting you go even if it costs me my life!!" [Blake]
"Please tell everyone that I-" [Angelica]
"I won't have any of that!" [Blake]
I tried to reason with him, but he still wouldn't let me go...
"Why are y-" [Angelica]
"Because I love you, Angelica." [Blake]
"A..." [Angelica]
Despite all of his burns, he was still able to confess. What is with this scenario?! This is not the place to raise any flags!!
"Urhg..." [Blake]
Blake can barely hold on for much longer... I was looking at him and started to cry, somehow, something inside of me felt very happy yet sad at the same time...
I lessened my grip and Blake held me much tighter than before...
"Do not... let go..." [Blake]
His tears fell on my face, he knew what I was about to do...
"This is the only way..." [Angelica]
"Don't think like that... we can still..." [Blake]
I closed my eyes and wished that we weren't in this deadlock.
As I was about to let go, I felt a small pouch on Blake's waist. It was where he hung his healing potion, with that in mind my hope was lit afire.
"Blake..." [Angelica]
"... Yes?" [Blake]
I called his name and slid off the cork of the potion with my free hand. From our current position, he couldn't see me with the potion and it would be hard for him to drink it...
"Angelica?" [Blake]
"I know that it may be painful, but can you pull me up really quick?" [Angelica]
I disregarded any second thoughts and had drunk the potion. Throwing the bottle away after I emptied its contents inside of my mouth. I then used my free hand and moved it around Blake's neck as he tugged me up.
"Ange- Mmn?!" [Blake]
In an instant, our lips connected...
There... I was giving him the potion via... mouth to mouth...
As I transferred the contents of the potion to him I kept my eyes shut. I am afraid of seeing the kind of expression he might be showing right now.
I'm sorry that it is so sudden... but please bear with it for a moment...
As I removed my lips from his, I can see the small red liquid dripping down from his mouth. The burns he received slowly started to disappear. When we were far enough, our eyes locked on to each other.
Thinking back on what I had just done, I was filled with such embarrassment.
"One more." [Blake]
"Eh?" [Angelica]
Now that is asking way too much! I only did it because it was a life-or-death situation!!
"Angelica." [Blake]
He moved closer, wait... he's not planning on?!
Slowly... inch by inch, he bridged the gap. I have to move away.
... ... ...
Eh? EH?! Why isn't my body moving?! Don't tell me that my female body is responding to him?!
No, I am not accepting this, is it because of the paralysis?! Yes! IT IS because of the paralysis!!
I just closed my eyes and hoped that it would end quickly.
At that moment he stopped when we heard a spider from far away.
Damn spider! You are 0.3 milliseconds late! I felt our lips touch just now!!
"Umm... ah... we have to rescue cane boy..." [Angelica]
"A-alright... sorry. Are you able to move?" [Blake]
"No..." [Angelica]
"Hold on tight then." [Blake]
"What do you mean by thaaaaaaaaatttt?!" [Angelica]
Blake suddenly spun around as I held onto his neck. After that, he powered up the crystal in his jian and sliced the wall to retrieve it.
When he got it off the rock, he slipped it back into its scabbard and used both of his hands to support me as he jumps on the rocks going up...
He gave me a princess carry... I just covered my face... this is so embarrassing mannnnnnnnnnn...
Why the heck is this happening to me... I would've felt much better if he carried me on his back...
On the way to the top, we never spoke a word which made it even more awkward... by the time we got there I was able to move normally. I used Blake's crystal which has the spell •Detoxify• because I had lost mine from the fall. The spider venom was so potent that I had to use the crystal until it ran out of stored energy. We better be careful not to get bit again.
The place was littered with half-open cocoons which had bones, hides, feathers, and fur poking out of them. It was sticky everywhere so we have to watch where we step.
Slowly we made our way into the spiders' den...