My name is dimitriv or at least was, until I died.

The last thing I remember is looking for shelter from a rampaging storm, then all of the sudden I heard the roar of thunder and all went black. Was I hit by lightning, Maybe? But right now that doesn't matter, I have been in darkness ever since. But I'm sure I'm not dead, I feel warmth, safety and expectation.

Then, after God knows how long, I feel a sudden surge of strength, no, its something else entirely, its the moment of birth.

I start to struggle, I was faced with resistance, but where there's an obstacle there's a finish line. And so I kept on struggling until...CRACK

I heard a cracking sound and kept on going with renewed determination. It cracked more and more until I felt cool air hit my skin.

'I'M REBORN'

I silently celebrated in my head.

Then after hearing some cracking sounds I looked around and then at myself.

'I'm a strider?'

I used to be a scolar in my past life. I wanted to study all living things, so I knew what to do next.

I climbed back into the egg and drank every bit of liquid that was left from my birth. It was a clear liquid that had a slime like texture, it was still warm and had no taste which made it a bit awkward.

After there was none left, or was just incapable of finding anymore, I climbed back out, these spider legs really are something and it seems this body knows from nature how to use it. Good, because I would probably not survive if I needed to learn how to walk.

Once outside I could see some striders and arachnids wandering around, probably wanting to group up, they tend to do that.

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Walking around I went over the advantages the spider-kin have.

'They grow up stupidly fast live unfairly long, and depending on subspecies can become ungodly big'

Currently I'm funking tiny and soft, which if you're an idiot makes me defenseless. I hear a cracking sound, but this one isn't that of a hatching egg it's the one of a breaking egg.

I rush over to see what's breaking the egg.

'Is it a threat? Should I run? Why aren't I running?'

After arriving where the sound came from I saw him.

A strider with an unnatural aura, as if he has been preparing longer than me, than them, than all of us.

He was breaking of pieces of what I presume is his egg and was putting them on like plate armor, he secured them using his webs and kept going until he was fully suited up. He climbed on top of what's left of the egg and then...

"HAU!"

He smashed all of his four fists into his armored chest and lower chest. Then a rather tall standing arachnid got the hint and also started suiting up. Then the next and the next and the next until I was the only one who wasn't armored.

That seemed to get the attention of the one who took initiative since he is standing infront of me. He was mustering my body with his eyes and got a little closer.

Usually I would be able to feel his mana, but I couldn't. It's not like something was blocking me, it's like there isn't anything.

He grabbed by the hand and pulled me along until we arrived at a mostly untouched egg except the hole where its proud owner hatchling creeped out from. Oh, that's my egg.

He gestured towards it and then tapped on his armor.

'My turn then'

I climbed up to the hole and tried to rip a piece out but...

"Hnghhhh"

It's harder than it looks, I never was physical person but what I would do for some muscles now. The strider seems to notice my struggle and climbs up next to me and tore out a piece, show of.

He ripped out a second smaller piece and placed the two on my back and chest. He then moved some silk to his lower hands with the help of his legs and used it to secure the plates on me, he kept going like this until I was also fully suited up.

All the while I tried to sense his mana but I found something else, anima. Which explains his strength, if he grows to be an adult. He would be ungodly precious, especially with the hidden trait of strider venom. Strider venom is paralysing and is only deadly in a overdose, its usually used in potions and other alchemical uses. However, strider venom especially fights off what doesn't belong be it fae, demon, spirit, or angel, fuck what if his venom becomes strong enough to kill a god?

Dimitriv knows people who would love that.

But there wasn't a lot of time to think since something was coming.

With a earrapturing screech a bat made itself known