Devi leaned back against the cool stones behind her, taking a small break from her careful carvings to inspect the fang she had been working on. When someone said ‘spider fang’ Devi just imagined a large tooth stuck on a spider. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The fang in her hand was jet black for starters, and completely smooth. Its surface was like plastic, but far harder. It took considerable force just to carve away at it.
The fang was also completely round, tapering to a wicked point at the end, with a small hollow opening, like a needle. In hindsight, she should have expected the fang to look like it did. It wasn’t really meant to rip and tear into its prey, but act as a syringe for the potent poison the spider would inject into its victims.
It changed what Devi had in mind for the fangs. Instead of more of a short blade, they’d have to be more along the lines of a punching dagger. Something to penetrate tough hide and maybe even armor, both of which probably would be hard to deal with, seeing as her current options were a broken sword and a crossbow. Unless she could snipe it from afar, she didn’t like her chances, her crossbow was really the only thing she felt could puncture armor.
She turned her attention back to the fang in front of her, continuing to carve away a hand grip for her use. Her small carving knife was coated in an iridescent light, making it slightly sharper, the shell made from her mana seemed to be prone to breaking if she applied too much force to it. Something that had been happening recently. Each time it did cost her more mana to reactive the Skill, but she had regenerated enough that it wasn’t too much of an issue.
Though she wasn’t in any shape to be fighting anything like the spider any time soon.
It was calming work, carving away at the fang, slowly turning it from its rough and natural shape, into something she could use. It was also vindicating, claiming the very thing that had almost killed her, and crafting it into a weapon to keep herself alive. There was some poetic justice there, but Devi was too engrossed in her work to spare a moment to think of it.
Time passed in a blur, rushing past Devi as she labored with focused determination. The rhythmic sound of her carving knife against the fang's surface echoed in the cavern, a counterpoint to the stillness that enveloped her. She lost herself in the task, her thoughts merging with each calculated cut, each deliberate shaping of the weapon-to-be.
With each pass of her knife, the fang's surface transformed from a rough, blackened exterior into a sleek, polished form. Devi's hands worked with practiced precision, her movements driven by a mixture of skill and sheer perseverance.
The cavern's shadows seemed to darken in the faint light of a few array disks she had laying around, casting an almost surreal glow over her work. The scent of charred spider mixed with the metallic tang of the fang's inner structure, creating a sensory backdrop that encapsulated the intensity of the moment.
As Devi's carving progressed, the fang began to take on a more defined shape. The once-rounded end now tapered into a wicked point, capable of penetrating even the toughest of defenses. Her iridescent Skill-coated knife glided through the material, leaving behind a trail of intricately carved patterns that added a touch of elegance to the deadly instrument.
As the final contours of the dagger began to emerge, Devi's fatigue seemed to fade into the background. The satisfaction of creation, of turning an erstwhile enemy into a tool of empowerment, fueled her efforts. She imagined herself wielding the twin fangs in combat, each strike a testament to her resilience and resourcefulness.
With a final stroke, Devi set her carving knife aside and inspected her handiwork. The once-menacing spider fang had been transformed into a pair of lethal punching daggers. Or at least, that’s what she thought they’d be called. A pair of daggers meant to punch through armor. Their jet-black surface gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, and the pointed tips promised effective puncturing power. The hollow openings at the ends remained, a reminder of the fangs' original purpose.
She had a few ideas she wanted to try with the hollowed daggers, namely filling it with the same poison she had been subjected to herself recently. Being able to stab something with the daggers, and then just wait until it slowly died was far more appealing than having to risk her life to finish of her opponents.
Devi picked up the twin daggers, feeling their weight in her hands. She tested their balance, their grip, and their potential. They felt right to her, though that didn’t mean much. Her experience with daggers was limited to a few pocket knives she had while growing up, but that was it. So she’d have to test it in a fight before she could say if they actually were any good.
As she held the daggers, her exhaustion caught up with her, her muscles protesting the physical exertion and adrenaline-fueled battles, while her mind sagged from excess concentration. Part of her wanted to continue crafting her daggers, she still needed to wrap the handles, and then dive in with her mana and see if she could strengthen it that way. But a quick check of her Status screen dissuaded her from that. She’d only regenerated less than a hundred Mana, not nearly as much as she wanted to try and channel into the daggers. So it was time for her to find a good place to bunker down for the night.
At least what she was calling night. She was under no illusions that her internal clock matched up with what was going on outside in the slightest. But getting her sleeping schedule to sync up with the day and night cycles was a task for another day, once she completed this dungeon.
For now, it was time to curl up in her small crevice she had retreated to, and try and sleep. Knowing there wasn’t a giant spider prowling the caves helped tremendously with that endeavor.
~ᵥ----ᵥ~
The next "morning," or whatever semblance of it she could determine in this underground world, Devi found herself back in the web-filled cavern. Her body felt more rested, though still slightly achy from the previous day's battles and exertions. Her internal alarm clock was thoroughly confused, but she had learned to adapt to the new rhythm of life in the dungeon.
After a quick hunt to find a bat to drain for breakfast, Devi returned to her makeshift workspace. The dried blood on the floor indicated the battle that had taken place here, but now the area was quiet, the remnants of the spider's carcass still lying nearby. The twin daggers lay there as well, awaiting their finishing touches.
Devi inspected her unfinished weapons, her mind already racing with ideas for how to complete them. She knew they needed grips, something to ensure a secure hold in the heat of battle, but her current lack of material to form said grips was problematic. The only suitable material she could think of were strips of cloth from her already ragged clothing, or the threadbare linens the skeleton had been hearing. Both of which seemed ill-suited for a weapon.
Devi surveyed the web-filled cavern with a contemplative expression, a new idea forming in her mind.
It is called spider silk for a reason.
Setting the daggers down, she approached the remnants of the spider's webbing. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she recalled that not all of the parts of a spider’s web were sticky. Some strands were only structural, while others were the prey-catching parts. She carefully examined the silk, first making sure she wouldn’t stick to it, before cutting off a few sections.
Once she had gathered what she deemed was enough, she sat back down and started braiding. She knew there was probably a better way to go about making these grips, but this was not her area of expertise. Give her a nice 3D printer and she could fabricate something a whole lot better, but making things by hand was not something she had much experience with. But she could muddle her way through.
The strands were slowly transferred into thicker braids, better suited for a grip than before. Her hands slowly became faster as she got more familiar with the process and material. The spider threads were strong, but flexible, a lot smoother than regular thread, but it took a considerable amount of force to snap one. A fact that she was grateful for as her untrained hands fumbled a bit at the beginning, causing her to enhance her Agility to make things easier for herself.
Devi's fingers worked diligently, intertwining the spider silk strands with increasing ease. As she braided, the silk transformed from individual threads into a stronger, more substantial cord. She marveled at the resilience of the silk, a testament to the spider's craftsmanship in its own right. It was ironic that she was using the very material that had once ensnared her to create a weapon that would now defend her.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
With each twist of her fingers, the braids grew thicker and more textured. The silk strands melded together, forming a cohesive grip that would fit comfortably in her hand. The process was surprisingly soothing, a calming rhythm that contrasted with the danger she had faced just days before.
She carefully wrapped the carved handles of the two daggers with the braided spider silk, forming a comfortable, yet sturdy grip. They should hopefully hold up for a bit, but she didn’t know. More things to test.
Now that the physical aspects of the daggers were completed, it was time to delve into the magical side of things. The part that Devi was most excited for.
Setting one dagger on the ground, Devi closed her eyes and sent a small trickle of mana into the remaining dagger in her hands, feeling around blindly. Her mana seeped into the spider fang, slowly filling the nooks and crannies, giving her an idea of what it looked like. For the hundredth time, Devi wished she could actually see what she was doing instead of relying solely on the feedback her mana gave her. But that would have been far too easy, so of course she couldn’t.
With her limited senses, the dagger appeared to have layers, and outer, middle, and inner layers, all with different compositions. The outer layer felt sturdy, unyielding, its mana the most ridged, though it still could be strengthened. The middle layer was the direct opposite, malleable almost, like it could bend in any direction, but she got the feeling that it wouldn’t break even if she could twist it into a pretzel. The innermost layer was the oddest. It was similar to the outside layer, but there was something else to it.
Small pockets that felt different. Malevolent almost.
All she could do was feel around, but when her Mana encroached on certain spots, it felt as if there was something trying to erode it. To seep in and break it down.
As Devi continued to explore the malevolent pockets within the dagger's inner layer, a realization slowly dawned upon her. These odd mana structures were remnants of the spider's venom, intertwined with the weapon's magical essence. It was probably a bit more complicated than that, but Devi lacked any deeper understanding of Mana, so her explanation would have to do.
With this understanding, Devi's curiosity turned into a sense of purpose. She contemplated the possibility of harnessing the poison's potency and incorporating it into the dagger's magical composition. The idea was ambitious, fraught with risks, but Devi had always been drawn to pushing her limits.
She quickly went over to the desiccated corpse and started carving away at its mouth, hoping to be able to extract the venom glands from it. She figured if she had more of the venom itself, she might be able to infuse the daggers with a bit of its toxicity. The idea of having daggers that could poison people was very appealing.
Devi meticulously carved away at the spider's mouth, carefully searching for the sacks of venom that should be somewhere in there. She followed the path up from where she had carved the fangs out, and slowly pried the spider open. Two small organs sat at the top of a long tube that connected them down to the place where the fangs used to reside, and she was fairly certain those were what she was after.
A few careful cuts later, she had two bulbs sacks, and a slight sloshing sound could be heard from within.
With a sense of both excitement and caution, Devi returned to her makeshift workspace, the twin daggers and the spider silk-adorned grips waiting for their final transformation. She set the venom sacs down beside them, her mind racing with ideas on how to infuse the poison into the weapons' magical essence.
The process was bound to be tricky. Devi understood that attempting to blend the venom's mana with that of the daggers required a delicate balance. The malevolent pockets within the weapon's inner layer had been a challenge to navigate before, and the addition of the venom's mana would likely complicate matters further.
Cutting a small slit at the top of one of the daggers, Devi cautiously maneuvered one of the venom sacks and slowly began to pore the poison inside. Her idea was to fill the small channel in the middle of the fang with the poison, and then go in with her Mana and try to meld the venom with the dagger. Hopefully creating a poisonous dagger in the process.
Would it work? She had no idea, but she was willing to try.
With the venom inside the dagger, Devi set it down carefully, not wanting to spill any of it or get it on herself. That seemed like a bad idea. She had already once experienced the spider’s poison and was not eager to try it again.
Closing her eyes, Devi channeled her mana back into the dagger, seeking out the venom inside. When she found it, she wasn’t surprised that it felt exactly like the small undefined pockets she had previously sensed. She focused her concentration, aiming to weave her own mana with the venom's essence, to enhance its potency and meld it with the weapon.
Her mana extended into the venom-filled channel within the dagger, its vibrant energy intermingling with the malevolent pockets of the spider's poison. But as Devi's magic started to infuse with the venom, she felt a sudden surge of resistance. The venom seemed to react to her mana, a dark and potent energy lashing out, trying to attack her mana directly.
Startled, Devi attempted to yank her mana back, but it was as if the malevolent force had gained a life of its own, empowered by her own mana she had freely given it. The struggle intensified, and in her desperation to disentangle her mana from the venom's grasp, Devi inadvertently applied too much pressure.
A violent shudder surged through the dagger, its surface cracking ominously. The venom inside responded erratically, spiraling out of control, its mana wildly colliding with Devi's own, and the dagger itself. The once-sleek and deadly weapon now resembled a fractured shell, its intricate carvings marred by chaotic patterns.
In her attempt to enhance the venom, Devi had inadvertently triggered an unstable reaction. The malevolent mana within the venom, driven by its inherent nature, broke down the delicate balance of her enhancements, causing the dagger's magical structure to collapse in on itself.
With a resounding crack, the dagger shattered into several pieces, the remnants of its malevolent-enhanced venom thankfully dissipating like an ethereal wisp, only causing Devi to cough on its fumes for a few moments.
Devi stared in shock at the ruined dagger in her hands. Her chest tightened with disappointment and a sense of frustration. She had been so close, so certain that she could weave the venom's potency into the weapon, only for her overeager attempt to lead to its destruction.
Just when I thought I was finally figuring out the whole magic thing, that happens. She scowled at the remnants of her failed attempt and carefully brushed them to the side. Just screwing things up like the dumb idiot I am.
With a frustrated growl, Devi reached over for the second dagger, resolute to make at least a single working weapon. She followed the same procedure, filling the inside channel with the spider venom, and then closing her eyes and channeling her mana into the dagger.
Devi's frustration and determination mingled within her as she attempted to infuse the second dagger with the venom's mana. Her emotions were like a tempest, swirling around her mind and clouding her focus. It was as if her own turmoil had manifested into the mana she was trying to control. Her attempts to concentrate became a struggle against herself, the intense emotions clashing with the delicate intricacies of magic manipulation.
I can’t fail here. I’m not going to.
The process that had once felt rhythmic and controlled now became a chaotic dance, each surge of mana interrupted by a burst of tumultuous emotion. Devi's hands trembled as she tried to maintain her connection with the dagger's inner channel. She could feel her mana mixing with the venom's essence, but it was far from the harmonious melding she had hoped for.
As the seconds turned into minutes, Devi's control continued to slip. Her mana churned within the dagger, intermingling with the venom's malevolent energy in unpredictable ways. The dagger's surface began to ripple with an eerie, unstable glow, casting grotesque shadows around her workspace.
Soon, it began to be less about the dagger in front of her, but a culmination of every other failure she had experienced. The dagger morphing into every time she had messed something up, ruined a project, made a social gaff, and only realized days after that she had. Her mind conjured up every defeat she had faced and threw it at her.
Devi's frustration mounted, fueled by her own impatience and anger at her previous failure. In her desperation to succeed, she pushed even harder, trying to force her mana to bend to her will. But her efforts only added to the discord, and the dagger's glow intensified to a blinding brilliance.
Then, with an explosive crack, the dagger shattered just like the first one, leaving Devi staring at the wreckage in disbelief. The force of the magical backlash knocked her onto her back, her breath catching as she lay there, dazed and defeated.
Devi's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She could feel tears stinging the corners of her eyes, threatening to run down her face. In a corner of her mind, she could feel the pain from multiple fang fragments that had embedded themselves in her flesh, but she couldn’t bring herself to care about them.
The cavern seemed to close in around her as Devi lay there, her thoughts a storm of frustration, anger, and self-loathing. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she struggled to rein in her overwhelming emotions. The shattered remains of the daggers were like a physical manifestation of her failures, a stark reminder of her inability to control her magic and achieve what she had set out to do.
Her mind replayed each mistake, each setback, each moment where she had fallen short. It was as if her past was haunting her, taunting her with a relentless barrage of memories. Her memories seemed to take on physical weight, all of them pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"I'm useless," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible in the confines of the cavern. "I can't even get this right."
The shattered dagger in her hand seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of her dashed hopes. She wanted to throw the pieces way away, to give in to the urge to scream and rage against her circumstances. But she remained limply on the cold stone ground, letting the darkness consume her.