I stared at the small cave entrance carved into the face of the slate gray rock. The sounds of the forest surrounded me; it felt like a lifetime ago that I had fled through the forest. Running without aim, desperate for anything that might help me survive even a moment longer. How little I knew at the time that what I found in that cave would change everything. I shuddered to think what would have happened if I hadn't awakened my bloodline in that cave with the spider venom coursing through my veins. I would have been destroyed by the venom and eaten most likely. If, somehow, I had managed to escape the spider's web to the pool below, I would have been all but blind in the darkness of the underground. I wouldn't have had the stats to fight any of the creatures that lived below the earth. In the end, I was certain I would have been torn apart by that very first [Giant Root Snake]. A prod from Vipera's snout against my cheek shook me from my musing. There was little point in wondering about the what-ifs. I was here in the now, I had fought, and bled to get here, I had lived.

  A familiar tingle flickered across my skin as Vipera vanished back into my soul. I checked my gear for the dozenth time.

  Bracers secure? Check. Cuirass isn’t loose? Check. Boots booting? Also check. Dagger still strangely sharp for a piece of bone? Double check. The simple act of checking my gear over helped settle my nerves; perhaps it was the routine of it all, it felt normal. Well, as normal as wearing multiple items that were magical as all hell. Which was pretty normal these days, six months ago? Not so much. I sighed, settling into the task before me.

  Do the first thing, first, the second thing, second.

  The first thing in this case being put one foot in front of the other until I was in the damn cave again.

  I approached the cave entrance, which seemed smaller than I remembered. Or rather, it was likely I was a bit bigger than I had been when I squeezed through previously. I got down on my belly and squeezed into the narrow opening, and it was much narrower than I remembered. My muscled shoulders scraped against the sides of the narrow tunnel, but I was able to continue on. The cool dampness of the cave seeps into my clothes. The darkness enveloped me, but unlike before, my eyes adjusted quickly. As I crawled deeper, I felt the first strands of webbing brush against my face. This was new; before, there had only been the one large web in the center of the next chamber. My heart rate quickened, a mix of anticipation and fear coursing through me. I pushed on, the passage gradually widening until I could stand, albeit hunched over. It seemed the additional webs weren't the only thing that was different about the area this time. It seemed the entire cavern had changed. I found myself in an alcove carved into the wall of the cave, looking out over the cavern.

  The cavern opened up before me, and I remembered it. Massive webs stretched from floor to ceiling, creating an intricate, deadly tapestry. Only the pond at the very bottom of the cavern was free of the webs. My eyes darted around, searching for movement, for the massive spider that had nearly ended my journey before it began.

  A skittering sound echoed from above, and I instinctively activated [Stealth]. I pressed myself against the cavern wall, my breath caught in my throat. A massive, chitin armoured leg emerged from a hollow above the main cavern, then another. Until all eight legs levered the massive bulbous body of the spider out of the hollow and into the main cavern, hanging from the ceiling. The monster radiated a feeling of danger. This was, by far, the single most dangerous creature I'd encountered in this strange place, neither than ant queen or her guards, compared to this singular monstrosity.

  This was it, no take-backs, no do-overs, no second chances. Something primal woke in me, my blood sang, my heart pounded like a war drum. Any remaining fear or uncertainty faded away beneath the weight of the primal call that sang in my blood.

  I roared, voice echoing in the cavern as I leapt from the alcove with my dagger clenched in my fist. My dagger plunged towards the spider's foreleg. My weight drove the dagger home, cracking through the chitin and into the meat beneath. Belatedly, I realized I knew nothing about this creature; I'd been swept into the moment and leapt into the fight without checking [Analyze] or anything. The monstrous spider felt dangerous. Extremely so. Yet, it didn't feel out of reach. I triggered [Analyze]. The [Analyze] results flashed before my eyes, revealing the creature's formidable stat sheet

  The stats confirmed my initial impression. This creature was formidable, but not insurmountable. Its strength far outstripped mine. On top of that, it was the first monster I'd encountered that had enough charisma to contest my [Analyze] at all. I could see its abilities, but couldn't see any of the details. I could guess what most of them did by simply seeing their names, but still, details would have been helpful. This monster also had the highest intelligence I'd seen so far, with only the one that came close being [Rootmaw Hivequeen]. That was not a comforting thought.

  The [Web Realm Weaver] reacted with lightning speed, its massive body twisting as it tried to shake me off. I gripped my dagger tighter, feeling it bite deeper into the creature's flesh. Thick, viscous ichor poured from the wound over my dagger and hand; the substance made it harder to grip the dagger. I could feel my grip slipping down the hilt. I growled in frustration while I was whipped from side to side as the spider tried to shake me loose. The situation was untenable for me, so I needed to do something to change the situation. There was always one answer that was just a thought away. I triggered [Hollow Web Metamorphosis], changing over to my spider form. I lost my grip on the [Web Realm Weaver], but thanks to the upgrade to my inventory I'd made ages ago now, I didn't lose my dagger. It was safely secured in my [Inventory].

  I fired off a web line as I fell, dragging myself over to a cavern wall where I could have a secure footing. My eight legs found purchase on the rough cavern wall, my new form's instincts guiding my movements. The [Web Realm Weaver] let out a hiss of fury, its massive form twisting to face me. I could sense its surprise at my transformation, a momentary hesitation in its aggressive stance. I didn't waste the opportunity. I felt [Web walker's Grace] become active, feeling a surge of confidence as the skill took hold. The cavern, once a deathtrap of sticky webs, now felt like my personal playground. I scuttled along the wall, my movements fluid and precise.

  The [Web Realm Weaver] lunged, its fangs glistening with venom. I leapt, using a nearby web strand as a springboard. As I sailed over the monster's head, I understood now why there were webs everywhere. Where before they seemed like they would be a hindrance, now they were opportunities. A chance to change direction, rebound, trap opponents. My mind spun in the background with possibilities of this new idea.

  Landing on the opposite wall, I activated [Authority of the Hollow Web]. The cavern seemed to pulse, resonating with the ability in a strange way. The [Web Realm Weaver] faltered, but only for a moment.

  "I think not, Webling." The Realm weaver hissed out. I froze in shock. "You lack the strength to make me kneel."

  It spoke… Shit.

  If it could speak, it was intelligent. That could be a problem. An enemy that could think and plan was orders of magnitude more dangerous than the monsters I'd battled so far. They'd had raw animal cunning at times to be sure, they could lie in wait to ambush prey, but that was as far as their cunning went. This monster could plan, it could use its skills and abilities in ways that would be much harder to predict. It could change and adapt new strategies when old ones didn't work.

  And I'd walked right into its den and stabbed it in the leg.

  “Your bloodline will fuel my own when I feast on your flesh!” The [Web Realm Weaver]'s words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let fear paralyze me. I had come too far to back down now.

  "You'll find I'm not sssuch an easssy meal," I growled back, my voice distorted by my spider form, the s being long and drawn out. I'd only practiced speaking as a spider a little bit, and I couldn't yet eliminate the sibilant hiss that came with every sss sound out of my mouth.

  The monster lunged again, its massive form hurtling towards me with frightening speed. I leapt away, using [Web walker's Grace] to effortlessly traverse the intricate web network. The cavern became a dizzying arena of movement as we danced across strands and walls.

  I fired off web lines of my own, aiming to entangle the larger spider's legs. The [Web Realm Weaver] countered with practiced ease, slicing through my webs with its razor-sharp forelegs. It was clear that despite my abilities, I was still outmatched in raw web manipulation. In the future that was going to have to change, but that was the future; this was now.

  "Your webs are weak, Webling," the monster taunted. "You cannot hope to match me!"

  I gritted my mandibles in frustration. It was right - I couldn't win in a battle of webs. I needed to change tactics. I needed an advantage. I couldn't bring out Vipera here to help me; she'd be hopelessly tangled in the webs in moments, easy prey for the realm weaver. Webs were out; they were useless against the spider. Venom was an option, but a difficult one to use. The realm weaver was physically larger and stronger than I was; I was faster, more nimble, but that would only help so much. If I tried to latch on and poison it to death with my venom, it would likely tear me to shreds. Not to mention it had its own venom. I was rapidly running out of options against this monster that almost seemed to be designed to neutralize every advantage I had.

  As I dodged another of the [Web Realm Weaver]'s attacks, an idea struck me. I couldn't beat it at its own game, but maybe I could use its strengths against it. I scuttled towards the center of the cavern, where the webs were thickest.

  "Running away, little Webling?" the monster taunted, following close behind.

  "Not quite," I hissed back, my plan forming rapidly in my mind.

  I leapt from strand to strand, purposely disturbing the web network. The vibrations travelled through the intricate structure, creating a chaotic symphony of movement. The [Web Realm Weaver] hesitated, its senses overwhelmed by the conflicting signals.

  Taking advantage of its momentary confusion, I darted behind a particularly thick cluster of webs. As the monster approached, I used all my strength to snap several of the main supporting strands.

  The effect was immediate and dramatic. The entire web structure began to collapse, creating a cascade of falling strands and debris. The [Web Realm Weaver], caught off guard, found itself entangled in its own creation.

  "You fool!" it roared, thrashing among the strands of falling web.

  "What'sss wrong?" I taunted, my voice a hissing challenge. "Afraid of a little water?"

  The monster's eyes flashed with anger. "Insolent Webling!" it roared, abandoning caution and charging after me, covered in strands of web. I danced around the cavern, shredding webs everywhere I went. I was going to drag this monster down into the water. There was a single massive strand left supporting the huge web, keeping the majority of it from falling into the pond below. I leapt onto the strand, my gaze falling onto the realm weaver as it gave chase. The entire web shook when it leapt from the cavern wall, landing on the plane of web, half mad with the desire to kill me and feast on the remains.

  I hissed in victory as I severed the web line and sent us both tumbling towards the water below.