What do you think? Adon asked. He and Goldie had spent the last half hour enjoying the view and going over plans to deal with the Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders. Despite their substantial shared resources in Skills and Adaptations, the two had not hit on any foolproof solutions. But he thought they had the best plan they were going to come up with.
I think this takes advantage of your abilities well, Goldie thought. Wish mine were more useful.
During the conversation, it had come out that Goldie had spent almost all her Evolution Points over the course of her life on silk-related Adaptations and Skills. The few points she had left after repeatedly specializing in silk manufacture and web-crafting were spent on her venom, intimidating size, and striking exterior appearance, in that order. It wasn’t surprising, considering the trajectories of their respective lives.
When compared with Adon, Goldie had tried to live a much more sheltered life in this garden. Like most creatures born into that competitive environment, she was primarily focused on surviving. The strategy she had followed had worked out well for the most part. Her web caught more than enough food to support her continued growth and eventual Evolution.
Anything that fell into the web could be killed with her venom, and anything too big or scary would either not notice or would be slowed enough by the web that she could run away and build a new web elsewhere. That had happened once when she was threatened by a vicious wasp.
Unfortunately, she had a much less diverse portfolio of abilities as a result. She had the size advantage over their current enemies, she could build better webs than they could, and she assured Adon that she was almost certain her venom was more potent.
But they were quicker on their feet than her, and they had a group coordination ability of some sort. It didn’t seem to be as powerful as whatever kept the ants functioning as a cohesive whole, but it was good enough that anything that attacked one of them got mobbed. That had given them the advantage, until Adon showed up.
The current plan is so simple, Adon transmitted. There’s nothing better we—I—could do to increase our chances?
He was worried about the physical risks to Goldie. If worse came to worst, Adon had endured poisoning before, and he had low level resistance already. And he would see if there was a more specific ‘Venom Resistance’ that he could buy before they started this fight. He also had a regeneration Adaptation that would passively heal any damage, as long as he escaped with his life. Goldie only had Shed Skin.
Not that I can see, Goldie replied. We have to act soon, though. Best to make our move before all wake properly. Before dark.
There’s still plenty of time before dark, Adon sent. Let me just take a little while and think if we can do anything to—
His eyes lit on the silk-wrapped mantis corpse. And then they darted back to Goldie.
I have an idea for something we should do, he transmitted. Something you should eat!
She looked down at the half mantis, her posture uncertain. Are you sure? she thought. You risked your life for this. I know such a large prey must be worth much Biomass. Even if already full, simply wait?
It’s not about the Biomass, Adon sent back instantly. I want to see if it gives you a boost.
What? A boost?
The two had a brief discussion. It quickly became apparent that Goldie had never eaten a life form the System considered superior to her. Perhaps it was her bad luck that she was on an equal tier with most species smaller than typical mammals and birds.
So you gain extra Evolution Points for eating a predator, she thought, clenching and unclenching her mouthparts excitedly. If I had known this, perhaps I would have taken more risks in my life.
Not just that, Adon sent. Extra Stat points! That’s the big effect I’m hoping for. You get an immediate, permanent boost, if the System that runs things considers this to be sufficiently above you in the natural hierarchy.
The spider shook her head. A lot to imagine. You really want to give this to me? You are sure? Not going to regret falling short of maximum potential?
Adon shook his head in turn. I already ate half anyway, Goldie. I got plenty of benefit. I like the taste of birds’ eggs better anyway!
Goldie stared at him for a long moment, and Adon wondered if he had said something weird again.
You will have to tell me story of birds’ eggs someday, she thought finally. Back to matter before us. Time is short. I will accept gracious offer. Will try to repay you with consistent food from web. Adon had started shaking his head, but the spider continued to insist. Will repay you as best I can. For now, you will be the one to eat dead thief spiders. Likely above you in natural hierarchy. But below me. You should also eat this thing. She pointed at the mantis ootheca containing the creature’s eggs. Before baby mantises hatch and kill us all.
The two shared an uncomfortable laugh, both aware that there was some real possibility that something like that could happen, if the eggs were all to hatch while the caterpillar and spider were resting.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Deal, Adon sent. He considered it a win, getting Goldie to take half of his spoils, considering that he had been worried that she would reject the food and him only around an hour ago.
The two tucked into their respective meals. Adon turned out to be hungrier than he’d realized. Maybe all that thinking was using up extra Biomass. Maybe it was the use of silk to wrap his food, the walk back from where he’d killed the mantis, or the constant use of Telepathy. Whatever the cause, he went instantly into a feeding trance.
Munch munch. Chomp chomp. Gobble gobble. Gulp.
Adon’s mind receded into whatever background place it usually went to while he was eating. He didn’t get to find out how Goldie ate her food. She had never eaten anything in front of him before, so he’d been slightly curious.
But by the time he emerged from his feeding trance, what was left of the mantis was completely gone, along with the silk wrapper.
There was just Goldie, standing there—looking strange. It was hard to put his finger on what exactly seemed odd about her. Was she bigger? Maybe. No. Something else. Her body was moving weirdly.
You okay there, Goldie? he sent. Telepathy was still active, but her brain seemed to be radio silent just now.
Goldie just shuddered, and Adon felt that familiar core impulse to run away again. This time, he ignored it more easily. She was just feeling—something. And moving her body in response to that, whatever it was. Jittery movements that would have frightened him a bit if he didn’t know her. Up and down the top part of the web where they were stationed.
Since he did know and trust Goldie, though, Adon just watched her, slightly confused and a little worried. Finally, she formulated her thoughts into a few coherent sentences.
After eating that, I feel another Evolution may be possible for me after all, Goldie thought. I had given up. But another stage is technically available, I know. A new tier of Evolution has always been there… Just costs an absurd number of Evolution Points. I had calculated how many it was possible for me to obtain over my natural lifespan, using my web as the tool to catch prey. I would fall well short, even if I saved every single point I accrued. But this mantis flesh was something different. So many points! Across the board increase to Stats, like you mentioned. I feel so strong now. So much energy. And I think it altered my brain.
Altered how? Adon asked, mentally calculating how far he’d have to leap from the top of the web to get clear of it, if he needed to make a quick getaway.
Think I might be smarter, she thought. Intelligence Stat went up. All my Stats increased, but that was always a strong suit. Most spiders are a bit smarter than a lot of ordinary insects, I suspect.
Her sentences sounded a bit better to Adon, too. Goldie’s grammar still wasn’t perfect, but her statements felt more complete.
That’s just great, Adon sent. All of it!
Yes, Goldie thought. I have a new goal once we secure the web. After the Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders are gone, I want to find a way to hunt species I never thought I could before. I could live! For longer than just another year at most. I think there are spiders that can live over a decade. It’s possible… I could see my young grow into adult spiders! Could protect them, like my mother could not do for me!
Adon wanted to smile. That’s incredible! We’ll make it happen, Goldie.
She nodded. But first, we’ll deal with our spider problem.
One second, he sent. Just a last few preparations to make with these points.
Adon opened up the Evolution Store to make a couple of purchases. Then he sent the message to the effect that he was ready.
With the sun starting to dip in the sky, the two took their respective positions. It really was a simple plan.
Adon left the web and walked around the outside. Then he approached one of the edges where two of the Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders were resting.
He got close enough to easily sight and aim at the two spiders. He activated Color Change to blend in with the ground surrounding him. The idea was that the opponents would not recognize this caterpillar who had been associating with the web’s owner. Not initially, at least.
With his body invisible to the normal spider’s eyes—Goldie had given him an idea of how well spider eyes worked—he turned his back on the two spiders and aimed his Silk Spinner at them. He took his time to prepare the strongest, stickiest silk within his body that he could.
And then he fired the biggest, thickest, stickiest burst of webbing that he could, right on top of them. The impact was so forceful that it shook the web slightly. The two spiders he had buried in silk instantly began trying to move.
But this was Adon’s most effective, powerful, possible shot of silk. He had aimed it perfectly. They weren’t escaping anytime soon. With any luck, they could barely wiggle a limb.
Adon waited for a few seconds to see if their brethren were approaching, but nothing in the web seemed to be stirring. Maybe they needed to be threatened more directly.
He stepped toward the web, and then he saw them. Eight Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders, rushing toward him.
I guess I got their attention after all. He stepped carefully backward into the space he’d occupied before.
The spiders rushed right up to the edge of the web and stopped. Looked at their entrapped friends. Turned to face a couple of different directions, clearly looking for what had done this. Looking for him. Unable to find him. A thrill went through him as he noticed one spider look right at him and then immediately past him.
But he was also afraid. If they didn’t notice him, if they didn’t realize who had done this, they might decide that it was Goldie. She was currently positioned all the way at the other end of the web. So it was physically impossible for her to have been the one who webbed up the other spiders. He had been hoping the thieves would recognize the threat originated from outside of the web, but that depended on how smart they were.
Adon saw a couple of the enemy spiders walking toward their fellows, probably to try and cut them free. He decided to give them another hint. He raised his spines. Pointed and aimed them into the middle of the group that was still looking out, trying to find him. And he fired dozens of spines into their bodies from fairly close range.
“Eeeeeeh!” The two closest spiders writhed in obvious pain and tumbled from the side of the web.
The rest of the spiders abandoned looking for Adon, and they threw themselves down to where their brethren had fallen.
Just about ready for you, Goldie! he sent. Then he turned his body around, to face toward the Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders scrambling to organize themselves and prepare to fight their invisible enemy.
Adon fired another barrage of spines at the freshly fallen spiders.
There were some injuries, but they clearly had his location now, despite his continued use of Color Change. The three least injured spiders advanced toward him as a body while the bodies of the three most severely wounded twitched and seized behind them.