Following the humans was easy. Both of them talking the whole time while wandering through the forest. Twigs crushed under leather boots and branches snapped off when in their way. James followed them jumping from branch to branch or swinging on strings produced from his abdomen, moving automatically and listening to their conversation.
“I told you at least a dozen times Sam! We’re here to scout the dungeon and assess the threat of the dungeon boss. After that we make our report and are finished.” Marcus said in an annoyed voice.
“But why do we need to do it?! There are people with higher levels in town. I didn’t volunteer for this bullshit!” He groaned as a branch hit his face.
Marcus sighed, “Because we’re expandable, don’t you understand it? We live in a frontier town. Monsters attack daily so high level people need to defend the weak ones. After we finish our report we can get back to guard duty.”
Sam frowned, he clearly didn’t realize that he was worthless in the eyes of the town. “Okay…but why do we need to kill the boss again?”
Marcus turned around on the spot, his face twisted in anger, “To protect the town you idiot! We can use the corpse to perform a ritual that repels monsters! Did you even listen at the briefing? Now shut up!”
The archer turned back and picked up the pace, leaving the shocked swordsman alone. "Hey, wait!" Sam yelled and frantically caught up to Marcus.
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James learned a lot from those two. There was a town that couldn’t be far away from here. The dungeon boss was important to that town and if James hesitated the hidden class would be a mystery his entire life. But he had a plan to use these two and delay the arrival of other humans, he just needed to get rid of them. There was no harm in using Marcus and Sam to do the scouting and have an unfortunate accident after that right?
For the next few hours he followed these two and he felt bad for Marcus, Sam was an idiot. He trampled through the forest like a wild elephant, alerting monsters and causing fights along the way. But the worst part was his complaining, if James was in Marcus position he would kill him but for now even the idiot could be useful.
As night approached they finally reached their destination, according to Joker this was also the right place. His advisor was happy with James's decision to follow the humans. Both humans made camp and James also settled down for the night, posting Joker on overwatch. The small spider slept for most of the way so he needs to prove his usefulness. After a building a small cocoon made from leaves and webs James drifted away into sleep. There was work in the morning.
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A few hours later James woke up from someone tapping on his carapace. Joker sat on his back and tried to get his attention. Sleeping was weird as a spider, it was more like all his senses and feelings got muted.
So James was up instantly, jumping on his legs forcefully even throwing Joker off him.
“Ahh! Master careful I don’t think I will survive a fall!” his advisor dangling on hasty produce string trying to climb up to the branch again. James pulled him up and dropped him on the rough wood.
“So the humans are moving? Well let’s go! I wanna see what this spider king can do!” James picked Joker up with two legs, depositing the small spider on his back. After leaving his cocoon he spotted the two men standing before the entrance to the dungeon. James quickly spun a string and let himself down to the ground, his small legs carrying over soil. He hid behind shrubs while making his way over to them.
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The humans entered the cave with James hot on their heels, he wanted to see the action from beginning to end after all. He climbed the wall and stayed hidden in the shadows. The men moved downwards in total silence, even Sam keeping his mouth shut. It didn’t take long to reach level ground again and the men entered a small chamber. Everything was covered in cobwebs and the sound of chitin legs skittering over rough stone could be heard.
James hung from the ceiling as a massive spider climbed from a hole on the opposite side. A force field springing up behind them. Two humans and a spider trapped in the dungeon. The beast before them hissed, its body easily reaching Marcus and Sam’s chest. Both of them looked at the forcefield before readying their weapons. It was fight or die trying at this point.
He must admit that James was worried, his Killer of Kin title could attract the spider king and end his journey rather quickly if he wasn’t careful. But first he needed to focus on the fight in front of him. This was a golden opportunity to learn the strength of the boss and see how the humans fight.
Even as an idiot Sam took point, his shield raised and his sword in an iron grip as he approached the monster. Marcus was already shooting arrows that glow with a green light, managing to destroy two eyes in the process. The King hissed angrily, charging towards the archer but a shout from Sam made it switch attention, the huge arachnid barreling into the tank, but Sam didn’t budge an inch. The spider stunning itself with the attack and giving the human the chance to get some hits in with his sword.
“I don’t know why I was worried! It can’t even fight back properly!” laughing the swordsman hacked a leg off, causing the spider to lose its balance for a second.
“You idiot! They call him the spider king for a reason! It’s becau-”, his answer was cut short as hundreds of tiny spiders descended from the ceiling or ran from tiny holes in the walls.
The King was wounded heavily, missing a leg and multiple eyes. Its carapace was damaged and arrows lodged into it. But his kin sweeped like a wave over the two men. Hundreds of spiders climbing up their bodies, digging their fangs in every opening in their armor. Sam tried to swipe at them, killing dozens of them with his sword that was covered in blue blood.
But it wasn’t enough to stop the horde, spiders falling on his head crawled into his eyes and mouth, using the same tactics as James not so long ago. His body hit the floor only moments later.
Marcus grabbed a vial from his pouch, drawing a half circle with the liquid inside before forcefully throwing a red gem at it. A wall of flame igniting in front of him. The spiders didn’t stop, not even a second. Jumping and running at the flames only to die, but some made it through and crawled towards the archer. It took longer this time but James could hear the thud of his body hitting the ground. The spiders left quickly after the humans died, the badly wounded King and James remained.
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James moved along the ceiling, his body already producing his web fluid, he attached himself to the rough stone and lowered his body down over the King. He could already see its wounds healing at a rapid pace. He cut the string and dropped on the king’s face. His body was driven by instinct as he vanished into one of damaged eyes, crawling through the wet insides. Blue blood covered his entire body as he destroyed the monster from the inside.
He didn’t think but just attacked, fangs digging into soft tissue, sharp legs penetrating flesh as he dug his way towards the abdomen. He didn’t know much about spiders but its organs are in the abdomen, he was sure about that.
Reaching it was difficult, the body healing behind him as he moved forward, the flesh compressing around him like he was a tumor that needed to be destroyed. In the end he managed it somehow, his own body cracked and bleeding. But he dug his fangs into the heart, feeling the blood leaking from it while he pumped venom into it. The organ helped him to circulate his venom. After a time that felt like hours he felt the flesh around him stop, no longer trying to crush him. The heart stopped moving and he knew he did it.
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Quest fulfilled: Hidden Class Unlocked!
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He really did it, he managed to do something impossible and now he could finally pick his class. With that thought he passed out, the sweet embrace of darkness claiming him.