"Finished on your side?" Vel asked me.

"For now. I wanted to take a break to make somewhere to sleep."

"You're talking about a web?"

"Crouching down on the ground isn't all that comfortable. My legs are all cramped up."

"Do you know how to build a web?"

"I know what it looks like, it shouldn't be that hard right?"

Vel raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at my legs.

"Anyway," I pushed myself up and skittered towards the wall.

The corner of the room looked to be the best place to work with. I had two walls and a support column to attach my web to. Provided everything was sturdy enough to hold my weight.

First, I needed to figure out how to spin web. I knew that spiders made their web with spinnerets located at the back of the abdomen. They were fairly easy to spot. I brought one of my rear legs near them and used the Spider Thread skill. A small line of silk poked out and I grabbed it with the small claw at the end of my leg.

I slowly pulled out a length of silk then flexed a pair of muscles to cut it. It looked like the thread skill came with the necessary knowledge of how to work the organs. I passed the thread to my forward leg then to my hands where I examined it. It was about a quarter the width of my pinky finger. On closer inspection, I noticed it was a multitude of smaller threads stuck together. I experimented and tried to make a thicker and thinner variants.

System Log

Skill [Spider Thread (I)] gained 1 level (1 to 2)

While I worked, Vel looked at me with fascination.

"I didn't expect you to figure it out that fast," she said.

"There's a skill for it, it helps a lot. There was no spider walking skill."

"Why wasn't there a skill?"

"I think the system considers walking to be too … basic to need one. Animals and monsters are born with the instincts to work their body, we had to learn to walk but that was before we had access to the system. If I were to guess, the ritual forces the change and it's not perfect. Or maybe it was designed that way." I shrugged. The system worked in arbitrary ways sometimes.

"But, back to webs," I continued, "I need to figure out how to make it stick to the wall. Not like spiders can tie it down."

"Sticky web?" Vel offered.

"That was my idea."

I pushed my rear against the wall and used the skill again, this time with the intention of making it stick. Another set of muscles flexed and a small bead of liquid was deposited on the wall at the end of the thread. I pulled away and continued to spin. The line extended from my butt to the wall. I moved to the opposite wall and carefully propped myself against it with my rear legs. I pushed my spinneret against the wall and created a second bead of adhesive. When I pulled back, I cut the line.

System Log

Skill [Spider Thread (I)] gained 2 levels (2 to 4)

It wasn't the best looking web. It wasn't even a web, just a single line, but I felt happy. I put my forward legs on the line and pushed. The silk flexed quite a bit but it held. The attachment points on the other hand did not. The line snapped from the wall and fell to the ground.

I frowned.

"I'm on the right path," I said, "I need to design my attachment points better. Distribute the load between multiple connections. The adhesive also needs some time to harden."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"You've lost me," Vel said, "don't you just need a higher skill level?"

"Probably but I can also use physics to cheat," I grinned.

I started to spin more silk and this time, I used Thread Control. The skill allowed me to move around any thread connected to me. At the first level it was weak and wobbly but I stabilized it with the help of Psychokinesis. I made three loops of silk that I tied together at one end. Then I used my rear to cut each loop in two and apply a bead of adhesive on each end. Finally I stuck each end at an even angle on the wall.

A quick pull test showed that it didn't budge even if I applied most of my weight to it.

"There we go," I smiled proudly.

Vel had a happy smile on her face. It looked like she enjoyed my antics as much as I did. I pulled her close for a hug and lifted her completely off the ground. I used my second set of arms and pedipalps to help.

"Whaa~" She yelped in surprise and grabbed my shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"You don’t like it?" I asked.

"No … I mean yes … I mean … I love it," she said with a blush, "it was just a bit … sudden."

I leaned in to kiss her.

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System Log

Skill [Spider Thread (I)] gained 8 levels (4 to 12)

Skill [Utility Thread (I)] gained 7 levels (1 to 8)

Skill [Thread Control (I)] gained 9 levels (1 to 10)

Weaving a web hammock was both harder and easier than I had thought. A basic web was relatively easy to construct once I got the hang of it. But while it was serviceable, it wasn't very comfortable. I solved the problem by discovering the Utility Threads. Unlike the standard spider threads, they could create far more interesting variations.

With some fiddling around, I managed to create a smooth and fluffy cloth-like fiber that I used to cover the web. With multiple layers in different directions, it created a springy mattress that was incredibly comfortable to lay on. I left some openings to let my legs dangle through the net.

The result was a snuggling compatible spider hammock.

"This is … so comfortable," Vel said. "And you're so fluffy."

She had jumped in with enthusiasm and was snuggling against me. I had all four arms around her and my pedipalp had wandered on her legs.

"Glad you like it," I yawned.

"Building that web tired you that much?"

"I think the day is catching up to me," I said.

"It was a long day," Vel kissed me gently.

"Good Night," I whispered.

"I love you," she mumbled.

That night was one of the best I had in a long time.

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I woke up with Vel soundly sleeping against me. Her hand had wandered and had tried to grab my butt. There was nothing but fluff there but she didn't seem to mind. My pedipalp also gained a mind of its own and had placed itself on her legs.

I played with Vel's hair for a while, enjoying the quiet of our little nest.

After a few minutes, she woke up.

"Hmmm," she mumbled, "this is so comfortable."

"Agreed," I kissed her.

"I don't want to get up," she whined.

"Oh, I've trapped you in my web?"

"Yessss," she purred.

I pinched her butt with my pedipalp and caught both her hands when she moved them. Vel's breath stopped and her eyes widened. I gently caressed her face. Having four arms was fun.

"Completely at my mercy~" I whispered in her ear and kissed her neck hard enough to leave a hickey. Her little moan of pleasure was all the invitation I needed to continue.

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I used my create water cantrip to provide both of us with a well deserved shower. I was glad to learn that my spider fluff was hydrophobic and water slid right off. Drying that much hair wouldn't have been a fun time, even with spells.

Vel made us a quick breakfast from the previous day's leftovers. After that, I proposed we check out the secret passage connected to the altar.

"I feel like we already got more than what we were looking for," Vel said.

"It's the only way that's large enough for me to fit through," I remarked, "whoever made these rituals had to have a way to get out from here."

"I think you can squeeze through the door if you try."

"Don't really want to try that with taratects running around everywhere," I grimaced.

"You're right, too dangerous. Let's see what's in there."

"Also, I need to give you my spell book now that you can cast nature spells."

"I won't say no to that. You have some great spells."

Before opening the passage, I used my new Manifest Armor ability. I pictured myself wearing the scout armor with the coat shortened, I mentally adjusted the cut to fit four arms as well. I watched five hundred mana disappear and the armor appear on my body over the shirt I was wearing.

I moved about a bit and the fit was perfect. I wasn't sure of how tough it would be but it was better than anything. I applied Magic Armor on top to reinforce it.

System Log

Skill [Manifest Armor (I)] gained 2 levels (1 to 3)

Skill [Magic Armor (I)] gained 2 levels (1 to 3)

"New skill?" Vel asked.

"Yup," I said with a smile.

I summoned my bow harness and belt out of my storage amulet and strapped them on. Everything fit like a glove. I felt much better with my equipment back on. This was when I noticed that Gaia had stored my backpack inside the amulet. And I hadn't been turned inside out by a space-time anomaly.

"Also, backpacks can be stored," I said. "Mine's in there," I tapped the amulet.

"Good to know," her own backpack vanished.

"Now, what's behind the double secret passage?"

I pressed the gauntlet against the altar and activates the enchantment. The far wall emitted a faint clicking sound and a part of it slid open.