Chapter 3: Senior Coil

I desire that speed!

My eyes seemed to sparkle from that thought. The guy in front of me grunted as he stood upright.

"Phew, that took a lot out of me."

The man said looking in front of him, it seemed like he was looking at an invisible screen— just like me. He was using his fingers to tap on something though— unlike mine where I just had to think of any action.

Maybe we had different circumstances, but that kind of look is the same, the look of staring at a screen of info.

*Whoop*

*Whoop*

The man was still using his system and I was getting impatient waiting for him. He was too slow and I was getting disinterested in him.

I skitter away from him and I tried to go through the dark tunnel. It didn't have any light, and I could only see silhouettes of objects— My ⟨Deduce⟩ skill was helping me a lot.

Then the man shouted.

"Hey! Wait for me little guy!"

Hurried footsteps go to my side and I looked at the pair of glowing pupils that were looking back at me. My vision suddenly adjusted to the darkness, I was able to see clearly in the dark now.

How did I not know this?

Then I realized, my compound eyes could adapt to the dark from the very beginning. And the Brood Cave didn't have any light at the very start, but I was still able to see clearly.

After that brief thought about the recent past. The man picked me up, mumbling something.

"This is getting too slow."

The man mumbled as he chanted a word.

A burst of speed engulfed us for a brief moment as the man sped through the dark long tunnel. Now this was what I yearned for, Speed.

After a few minutes or so, we finally got out of the claustrophobia-inducing tunnel. The cave we entered was vastly different from the cave we fled from.

It had light from the top of it, upon closer inspection it originates from the vines hanging from the ceiling. Then in the middle of the cave, there was a small pond. The man walked to the side and there was a leaf curtain, opening it up there was a small abode— the perfect place for a single person.

He gently placed me down outside, as he stepped inside the abode. A few moments later I heard snoring originating inside the abode.

He left me alone. He must trust me a lot to think I wouldn't just destroy his stuff— Which I won't.

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I explore more of the cave as I go back to the tunnel we came out from. It had symbols etched around the rim of it. It looked like eggs, seemingly referring to the Brood Cave. Then to the right of the tunnel, was another tunnel etched with small critters around the rim. Two more tunnels had the same critters, but they had different sizes and features.

From the small and simple features of the first critter tunnel; to the large and feral features of the third critter tunnel. They oddly looked similar, like I had seen them before.

I skitter to the pond and look at my reflection, I see myself in my violet carapace together with my mandibles, antennae, head, and compound eyes. They almost look identical to the little critters etched on the first tunnel.

"You are more intelligent than I thought"

My body jumped in surprise from the voice.

It was the half-insect and half-human guy. Now that I looked at his body thoroughly, I saw more features that I hadn't seen before.

From top to bottom; he had dark orange hair that was rough and it didn't look like he trimmed it so he had medium-length hair, he also had a pair of antennae that were the same as mine, and his eyes were still glowing orange with his face showing signs of facial hair growth. His torso was covered with a dark orange carapace that extended to his arms and legs only stopping at his hands and feet— He had pants on, I wonder why— but it isn't my place to question it. I also saw his knuckles had tiny holes, I deduced that it might be where the thread shoots out from.

"Looking at my great bod aren't you?"

He chuckles, flexing his right arm.

"Screech!"

I replied, thinking he wouldn't understand what I said.

"Oh, I do understand you, well... Sense your intentions."

He said while smirking.

I don't understand it clearly. I only wanted that speed he showed to me in the tunnel.

"Looking at you now, you still need to level up two more times to grow up."

His eyes were glowing as he said it.

"Skree?"

I questioned him.

"You could say it was a skill."

He chuckled.

"Oh right, I haven't told you my name yet."

He placed his hand on his chin.

"How about you call me, Senior Coil."

Coil smiled.

Heh?

Well, at least it isn't as bad as calling him 'Master'.

I bobbed my head back and forth, partially accepting this, Senior-Junior status.

"Great, it seems like you accept this Junior and Senior mentorship."

Coil said while pointing at me and himself.

"But, first things first, we go to this tunnel."

Signalling me to follow him.

So I followed him to the first tunnel with the little critters. It wasn't as long as the tunnel with the egg symbols, and we eventually entered another cave. The rocks inside the cave were vastly different in terms of color, they were light-grey colored.

"Skree?"

Can I get my path first?

"Hahaha, it isn't that easy to find a path for a nymph such as yourself."

Coil laughed at my suggestion.

"Mostly because nymphs have multiple ambitions at the start, I suggest you level up and grow first."

Coil added.

I nodded. Although it is a shame, I should be safe— better to be safe than sorry I guess— and we kept walking.

And walking...

Coil engaged in a conversation with me while walking.

"So, you wanna tell me why you wanted to get your path first?"

Coil wondered.

"Krek."

Intuition.

"Too vague."

Coil stopped asking more questions.

And we continued walking down...

Still walking...

I wondered how I wasn't getting fatigued from walking. As a screen popped up.

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[ Due to extensive walking, your stats have increased! ]

[ Stamina stat has been increased by 1 point ]

[ Stamina - 3 -> Stamina - 4 ]

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This proves it.

"SKREEK!"

I complained loudly.

"Yes, I understand it is taking so long, but trust me on this..."

Coil stopped and looked at me for a second.

"Huh, you don't have a name, do you?"

Coil mumbled.

"You need a name, I can't just be calling you little bud every time. You'll soon grow up..."

He was thinking about it hard.

Then he snapped his fingers as his expression brightened.

"How about I call you, Zen?"

"Keh?"

What a dumb name.

"Well you are gonna stick with that name, Junior Zen."

He continued walking without even changing my name again.

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[ You have been given a name! ]

[ Coil has given you the name, Zen ]

[ A Senior and Junior Relation is confirmed! ]

[ New title can be gained! ]

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Coil stopped just as I did. He looked at me again, smirking widely as he swiped the air, dismissing something.

"Equip it, Zen~"

Coil suggested, smirking.

"The title."

This time, poking at me while saying it.

"kreh..."

I sighed as I looked at the title description.

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[ One New Title is Available! ]

[ Junior ]

( You who have been saved and taken care of by Twine have been named by him. You acknowledge him as your Senior due to you having the ambition of getting faster. The Title, [ Junior ] will improve as you train with a person who has the Title, [ Senior ]. )

Title Effects:

+1 Stamina

+1 Vitality

+1 Strength

+1 Intellect

+1 Agility

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The title wasn't a bad one... But Coil was annoying me with his taunts. I didn't equip the title— smirking at him with spite.

Then, Coil sighed.

"If I help with obtaining your path before reaching Level 5, will you equip it?"

"Skree!"

I agreed joyfully!

"But I have another condition."

Coil looked at me as he opened his mouth once more.

"You will just have to..."