Chapter Five, Red Blood.
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He bent, his hands grazing the spider carcasses.
"Cuts... Burns..." He murmured, feeling the markings and digging his fingers into one of the wounds.
"Deep cuts... Slashes? A weapon... A sword." He understood.
The elements shifted, his instincts pointing towards the two human bodies.
[Sensitivity] seemed to be his largest boon, attribute wise. It was between that or [Capacity] at least.
With each increase, he could feel... more. Information seemed to flock towards him. Skills became easier to utilize. The world became easier to wade through.
Honestly, he felt that an enemy with even one high level hidden attribute could be a massive threat.
Luck? Defense? Sensitivity? Capacity? Each one had potentially game changing effects.
He wondered if there were more attributes to perhaps unlock.
Chomp!
Both of the spiders bodies disappeared into his stomach, disintegrating into [Strength], experience, and skill level. Only enough to bring [Dark Vision] close to its next level.
He couldn't gain much more experience from these low level mobs that all had similar knowledge. Being able to bring [Leap] to level eight was a surprise to him. Each level didn't just increase the mana output, but it came with increased versatility.
Doing new things with a skill would raise its level, breaking limits would raise a level. At this point, he could only level up [Leap] through his own modifications and adjustments, integrating the skill from these low level spiders wouldn't give him any experience.
He rose and shifted over towards the only two other bodies present.
His first time seeing something that looked like him.
So far all he had known were these spiders, but he knew for sure that they weren't all the world had to offer.
He kneeled next to a woman, gazing down into her lifeless eyes. Red blood leaked from the corner of her mouth—the same color as his—staining her cheeks. She had long black hair, countless times longer than his that only reached just past his brow. Her body was covered in... clothes... The world seemed to communicate that with him through his [Sensitivity].
Layers of leather covered her body, hiding away all the flesh. He could still smell it, although it was dead, the taste still lingered. The cold, but appealing scent that taunted his nose.
His stomach started to grumble. A new meal was something he was interested in.
His gaze returned to her eyes, staring into them.
Then he glanced back down towards her abdomen, squinting at the gaping hole in her side that obviously came from a streaking spider leg.
"[Devour]." His maw clamped onto the human, cutting through her entire upper half, only leaving two legs. But with another chomp, those were quickly gone too.
He could feel the armored clothing rub against his throat, but it posed no discomfort. Her body melted into a warm solution within, her remnant energies filling his body.
The small leftover wounds he had from his recent fight closed themselves. The cuts and gashes here and there fully healing. Even the internal bruising from being launched into a wall had seemed to return to normal.
"[Integrate]."
And, boom.
Visions flashed in his mind, real experiences, not recollections.
He could see the world. The blue sky. Raging waters. He walked through the town, a friend calling out his name. He dove into a dungeon, his short sword plunging into the skull of a wolf beast. He could feel the slick consistency of the potion rushing down his throat and feeding him health.
He glanced down, feeling the grass beneath his bare feet.
He picked up a quest from the board.
"Dungeon break." He murmured, listlessly.
And then... he could see a spider. A massive one, not the size of the mother he encountered earlier, but surely far more intimidating.
It was a vibrant monster, black and yellow strips lining its back, with long skinny legs that carried more power and quickness than any he had seen before.
It hissed, and silk lines appeared everywhere.
And then it all stopped.
Jora took a deep breath, fully absorbing all the information granted to him.
He glanced down towards the sword near where Kira's body used to be.
It was broken in half.
His gaze fell on the other human. He was equipped with robes, daggers strewn near him.
He wiped the blood off of his mouth, scooting over to the other body.
"[Devour]."
Eating the man in less than three bites, he wiped his mouth the same, gulping down the warm essence.
"[Integrate]."
Grass. Friends. Shadows. Dives.
Jora quickly exited his stupor, feeling more comfort within the darkness around him.
"I understand."
A far wider range of skills to choose from.
A brow raised.
"Yes."
A jolt of energy ran through his body, sparking downwards from his brain and into his muscles.
The elements flocked to him, clinging onto his body and welcoming his existence.
He inhaled, taking a deep breath.
"Nice." He laughed, heavily satisfied.
He lifted his body, rising to his feet. He itched his nose, looking forward.
Where he surmised the crew of John Jackson and Kira had fallen back to.
Thinking of only one thing, his grin grew.
"I want your threads."
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A shield intercepted Jess, blocking the swarm of threads heading for her.
They thudded against the barricade with an unnatural strength.
“God damn!” Luke exclaimed, one of his knees buckling under the force and exhaustion.
”Flame-“ A voice was cut off, replaced with a gasp and squelch.
Arjae’s sword skidded off one of the Orb Weaver’s resilient legs, scratching the ground.
His head swung to the side, glancing over his shoulder.
”Ryan!” His heart sunk.
Their already battle torn mage was lifted into the air, metallic threads wrapping around his body and displaying him in the air.
His wrists wiggled, his legs kicking. His limbs were outstretched with a mass of silk covering his mouth, preventing any pleas.
Out of distortions in the air, these threads appeared, and rather quickly, more silk was wrapping around Ryan’s head.
A bell in Arjae’s mind rang, causing him to drop to the floor as a leg stabbed where his head had been.
He rolled past the stickly appendages, dragging and slicing his sword every way he could.
“Fuck!” He cursed.
“Lu-“ He attempted to cry, but mid side step, he could see it.
Luke was being battered with spears of thread, attack after attack pummeling him as Jess cowered behind him, casting buff after buff assisting however she could.
His sword clashed with a leg, Clara appearing out of seemingly nowhere and digging a dagger into the Weaver’s side.
SCREECH!
It yelled, kicking her away sending her tumbling to the ground.
”Fuck! Fuck!” He cursed more.
He was fending off the monsters front four legs, with pure sword skill. He couldn’t afford to blow through all of his mana on spells. He would need it to cause real damage with his sword through skills.
”Think Arjae! Think!” He screamed at himself.
His party couldn’t die here.
They were still so young!
Clara was the only old one here, and she was still only twenty-three!
How could they stop it from [Threadwarping]?!
No… How could he stop it?
An idea flashed in his mind.
”Clara! Take my spot!” He yelled, rolling backwards.
Instantly, a body filled his place, dual wielding daggers and trading blows with the Boss level creature.
’I just need to get behind it…’
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