LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 39: A spider’s best friend…
Making use of their new movement options Alicia leaped as much as she could on her way back, with the help of Alice of course. This time the jumps had much more precision which prompted her to think more deeply into the cause. In it she noticed the reason, when Alice took control of a Mirror Image the image would always take in a similar form to her, except it invariably had one missing leg, third leg on the left side the median back leg. Although it didn’t contribute much to the distance, it had a crucial role in balance, this was likely the cause of her problems during her practice. It also explains why she had better jumps now, as Alicia’s body had all of her legs intact. But this raises another question… Why did Alice have seven legs in the first place? The answer was she lost it somehow but why wasn’t it growing back? Regeneration could reconstruct whole limbs and organs at a cost of energy but it didn’t. Simply because it considered her already as healthy as she could be. Then the answer was that it’s her own doing, if not consciously perhaps subconsciously. Then why? Although Alicia wanted to investigate the matter further there weren't any leads she could follow without Alice herself helping.
Putting the issue at the back of her mind, she arrived at the defensive perimeter the weavers set up. A bride was there on a web to welcome her:
- ‘…… …’
- ‘She did what now?’
Going past it and a few paces later Alicia could see Dryssia was dragging a large lupine on a… tether.
- “Master, you’re back I found a Woof! He’s hurt!”
- “A wolf”
- “Woof woof!”
- “Fine, have it your way… So how did it end up like… this?”
Ordinarily indomitable and free spirited Dire wolf was acting… unusually well behaved. Coat dirtied with filth and mud, bald spots around scars, swollen areas and spots of bruises not to mention the pieces of web tangled on its fur that Dryssia was holding onto, using it as a leash.
‘Seems like they wrapped him up first before bringing him here…
Wait a moment… Puncture wounds a few centimeters deep… a pair… facing inwards to each other… pincerlike. He ran into the web… then they wrapped him up, they weren’t hungry enough to immediately start eating him. So they immobilized him and started the cocooning. That’s why he’s lethargic, venom hasn’t completely worn off yet.’
- “A tiny friend hopped in front of me and told me!”
- “A huntress… I wouldn’t say that they’re ‘tiny’ but by the standards of a tree… Also I remember vividly telling you to call me by my name didn’t I?”
- “Ah! Uhm…”
The tree nymph froze up in shock as she recalled what she had overlooked.
- “You forgot didn’t you? I need you to remember it, now can I have a moment with our friend here?”
Taking hold of the tether Dryssia had in her hands Alicia led the wolf to the treehouse, stopping under the foliaceous shade…
- ‘Do you know how lucky you are? First you get caught in one of my webs, then the trolls’ net which I freed you from, after that you stumbled into the webs of my weavers and narrowly escaped death on the account of my kindred didn’t feel indulgent. You just can’t seem to catch a break can you?’
Weak whimpers were its only answer…
Slowly and gently supporting its snout from the underneath;
- ‘Wanna come with me? I can’t guarantee anything but at least you’ll have company and… maybe somewhere nicer to sleep. You would be sacrificing your freedom in paper but I think Dryssia will take you out on plenty of walks.’
Flattened ears, tucked tail, body lowered and crouching and a single whine…
- ‘Well you aren’t the most unique guy around but I don’t mind it, welcome aboard our circus.’
>Skill assimilation underway, processing…
>Idiosyncratic integration underway, processing…
>Genomic Mapping in progress…
- ‘Now you wanna tell me about who sweeped the floor with your fur while I see to these wounds hm?’
- ‘… …… …… … ………’
- ‘Sounds like ogres, they went after you huh… two three in a hunting party… probably means there’s a cave full of them.’
⟨ Soul Scryer ⟩
>Summarising damage report…
>4 shattered ribs.
>Internal hemorrhage caused by damaged blood vessels from broken bone fragments.
>Skeletal matter has punctured the lung.
>Bloodloss stage Ⅱ.
>Multiple bruises caused by blunt force trauma.
>Scar tissue unable to heal.
>Lingering paralysis caused by muscle tissue damage from Myotoxin.
>Trace amounts of Myotoxin detected.
>Evaluation: Subject vitals unstable. Requires immediate medical attention.
- ‘God how are you even standing…? Damn, wasn’t there something about me being able to share my power? Now would be a good time.’
>Requesting delegation access to Omnia cum Deo.
- ‘You have all of my permission, just do something!’
>Delegation access granted. Granting unit recommended skill entries standby…
>Kindred Rank 6, maximum number of skills available for surrogation 6.
>Recommended skill set:
>Constitution Ⅵ
>Regeneration Ⅴ
>Spiritual pool Ⅴ
>Strength Ⅵ
>Surge Ⅲ
>Stealth Ⅵ
>Employment……………… Complete.
Open wounds closed up with the surrounding tissue pulsating inwards, injuries on the flesh old and new were freshly healed and over them grew a new pelage, grizzled, shaggy and wild. Alicia could barely make out faint cracking noises coming over from its thorax, the bones were snapping into its rightful places. Feet no longer teetering, and with each passing moment the wolf regained its strength and stamina. And soon enough, it held its head high, ears perked and full of attention. In just a few seconds from the shell of its former self a peerless version of it emerged, jaunty, bold and filled with confidence, eager for action.
‘Is that what happened to me with regeneration? Amazing. I think he grew by like four or five fingers?’
>Notice. Skill regeneration corrected physical defects caused by undernutrition.
‘Oh. Never knew it could do that.’
- ‘How are you feeling? Better?’
The timberwolf was attentively sitting down, its tail swinging left and right as if trying to sweep the floor with its fluffy tail.
- ‘……… …’
- ‘Great. Now, you wanna crack some skulls?’
Reply was some mix of bark and a snarl.
- ‘Lead the way.’
- “Dryssia I’ll be back soon I just need to take our new friend out on a walk.”
- “Hooo! The woof is big! I want to go next.”
- “Yeah sure thing…”
‘I don’t think I’ll be able to make her call wolves, a wolf.’
With the wolf at the front Alicia followed an animal trail. As they were making their way to the place where it encountered the ogres, they had to make multiple stops dealing with other Magical beasts in their path. Though they were short lived however as the lupine was oddly motivated to take them on. Thus Alicia didn’t have to get involved as much as she expected to.
- ‘You good on your own?’
- ‘…… …!’
- ‘Enjoying your newfound health huh… You’re being a bit reckless, dial it down a little.’
- ‘………’
- ‘No, You don’t have to prove anything to me. I helped you because I wanted to and you’re free to live out your own life, I won’t tie you down to myself… Well maybe there was this little thing… I think Dryssia would be a little sad if you were gone.’
- ‘… ……’
- ‘She smells like dirt and plants?’
There was a small chuckle from Alicia;
- ‘That’s probably because she’s a tree… You don’t have to mark her with your urine. No need to hide it, I can tell what you’ve been thinking, especially now that you’re my familiar.’
While silently continuing on their path…
- ‘Though if you don’t mind I have some… people that I want you to work together with. Say do you have a pack?’
- ‘……… ’
- ‘I understand, think they’ll come around? I need some muscle you see…
The wolf glanced back with some vague emotions…
- ‘No no you’re fine, but for what needs to be done I can’t expect you alone to do it. If you don’t want to, that is a-okay too. I have something else in mind but it simply takes more time comparatively. Having extra help early is better right now.’
- ‘… ………’
- ‘Thanks, do you need help?’
- ‘…’
- ‘All right then.’
Picking up the malodorous scent from where it was chased from and backtracking its trail of footprints deeply imprinted on the ground lead to dwelling of the ogres. Their camp outside a cavern opening was rife with sweltering heat from a bonfire and the revolting smell of roasted flesh and blood as they attempted to ‘cook’ whatever poor creature they found.
- ‘One, two, three… five… one at the back is sleeping…’
Loud and unruly, they seemed to be vociferously arguing over who gets to drink dredge water filled with mud and dirt scooped from nearby rivers and first to eat their food. Armed with rudimentary weapons made from the femur of some large animal that they scavenged or killed. They were one of the prime images of savagery.
‘A head taller than the trolls… which is around my height in spider form. Two legs, exposed teeth from underbite, muddy brown skin and most importantly all brawn, no brain, vulgar and quarrelsome. Yup that fits into Sha’ko’s description of ogres. Sometimes they can be born with two heads in a single body… having twice as much intellect their cognitive abilities have been likened to that of an ordinary intelligent being… God they need a second head from a deformity to be ‘normal’ what is ‘not normal’ intelligence for them?
Regardless of their acumen, they’re still instinct driven and primal… Being less intelligent doesn’t make them less dangerous. With identification out of the way… the problem is how to deal with them. Thick skin makes cuts and slashes less effective, stabs and thrusts into the vitals are going to kill them the quickest. But they won’t go down with just a single poke… might be better to cripple their arms and legs first. One that is sleeping is a free pick for me. Can my web hold onto some of them? Just one is enough time to split them up into a manageable size… With their height… Let’s give this a shot.’
Their day’s hunt had come to an end. First they found fur-ling burrows. They couldn’t dig it out so they left. Then they found a furball. Though they managed to surround and hit it, it still ran away after it slipped underneath their legs and ran. Hungry. Tired. Found bone head. Doesn’t run. Good. Smash head. Bring food to home. The two found no food. Stupid. Stupids do not eat. If they try to steal, he will club them. Friend slept. Good for him. Eat their food before they wake. More yum yum for him.
Nasty sounds. From furball before. They stole food! We go kill. Then we eat food and Furball. Chase! Friend stuck. Didn’t see many leg’s trap. Do not see many legs. Maybe left… Help friend…? Furball is eating food. There will be no food left. It is running! I chase. Stupid help yourself. No food for you! I go smash! Chase… long. Furball stopped. It is sitting. It is tired. Good. I smash you! …!
‘These should be the last of the webs. I hope the trees have enough strength to hold them down. Now let’s get this party started… Taking all of them head on will be a challenge. They aren’t nimble or graceful but if they cut off your escape you will have a hard time trying to dodge their attacks. Besides, I don’t wanna take a bone club with my sword… Can’t be good for its edge…
So after killing the one that’s sleeping, Rufus1Name of the wolf; “Roman cognomen meaning "red-haired" in Latin. Several early saints had this name, including one mentioned in one of Paul's epistles in the New Testament. As a nickname it was used by William II Rufus, a king of England, because of his red hair. It came into general use in the English-speaking world after the Protestant Reformation.” Alicia named him this way because the name sounds like a barking vocalization. It has nothing to do with the color of his coat. He doesn’t bark as much as dogs though. Also happens to be a Flash formatting program. will go get their attention and pull them into my webs. Due to their height difference Rufus will just duck under the webs but the ogres will run head first into them. Once they’re stuck I can easily deal with them. However he wanted to have the last one for himself… I think he wants to dish out vengeance by himself… Well I can help…’
…
Purposely provoking them by flaunting their own food in front of them Rufus managed to keep their attention on him… and ran them away while Alicia trailed the pursuit finishing off the stray ogres stuck to the webs or got left behind quickly. Either with a thrust to the heart if accessible or if not and they’re unlucky, slice to the neck suffering until they bleed out. One by one they fell until there was only one left. This one wasn’t for her… it was for her new companion to handle. She was told to just wait for him to finish up but… for safety’s sake she still followed the two.
Ogre was tired, nostrils dilating and shrinking with each breath. While Rufus was calmly sitting behind the feast he stole from them taunting it to come and get it. There was a single reinforced thread at leg height in between the two. After realizing he stopped running, it charged with the intent to kill, ignorant of the tripwire. And as expected to Alicia and the wolf, in a single step it tripped forwards firmly planting its face to the ground. From its fall it let go of its club, it rolled forwards and stopped in front of Rufus. Waiting for that moment it started its vicious torment.
Raising up it scrambled to grab its weapon but their hand only met a series of teeth. With the digits chomped off, it let out a howl of pain. While it was desperately kicking and crawling away to escape he intercepted one of its kicks plunging its fangs deep into its shins. Unable to stand and with no options to fight it rolled on its back, still trying to flee using its elbows as a paddle against the ground, fright and terror visible in its eyes. Now it was vulnerable and open to attacks. Stepping on top of its chest he could feel how the heart pounded against his paws. Aiming straight for the neck it bit off a chunk of flesh moistening its fangs in claret fluids and spraying around it. Despite this barbaric display it didn’t let a single drop stain its fur, preserving its pristine sheen. It felt no hatred or anger towards its former assailant. Only a hunter’s pity, to the prey. Rufus jumped off of it leaving behind the dying ogre. It rolled around clutching its mutilated gullet, holding onto its fading life until eventually it collapsed motionless.
Challenging the ogre on its own was partly for revenge but also to gauge its newfound powers granted to it by his new master. It expected more of a difficulty, yet the difference was too great. It was incomparable. What was fiery desire for retribution quickly smoldered into cold ashes as he overpowered the ogre in every aspect. Strength, speed, endurance all of it far superior. To live is to struggle, very existence itself was a daily test of mettle. If you can’t stand on your own… you fall or you find other ways stand the test of life.
It has always scraped by and managed somehow. On numerous occasions it almost fell into the jaws of death and through sheer luck or… through some other machinations it survived those ordeals with not a small portion of it thanks to Alicia’s actions… now its new master. In truth it had died already… and brought back to life, given a new body, new power, new life and… a new purpose beside her.
That is a 2400Mhz DDR4 Corsair Vengeance 8GB ram. Bring my total to 16GBs with my previous x2 4GB kingston DDR4 2400 Mhz rams without coolers.
Here it is in the board.
Now the more tech savvy and attentive ones might wonder why the fuck is it in the slot 4. Well you see slot 3 wasn't working... My motherboard just wouldn't boot up from its perpetual hardware check. But since slot 4 worked I really don't care much about it, until I buy another one... Kick the can down the road I guess. Anyway these things took up some time and I just got back to writing like 3 days ago. And maybe enacting galactic holocaust in Stellaris as an Authoritarian anime girl empire. I may have also done that. Next chapter is gonna be a intermission just a headsup. But it'll also come out sooner.
I'm sorry but I have no many legs' fact this time.