Chapter Text
"I'd like to formally present: Dungeon Crawler Zoe, Black Widow Wannabe, Arachnoid. Level 10. Welcome crawler to the third floor."
Her arm was too tight around my shoulders, like an iron bar rooting me in place. The buzzing that started when I accepted the Arachnoid race hadn't stopped around her. I didn't like my game guide, didn't trust her. Not when she pushed me to kill crawlers for easy experience. I wouldn't do it and it pissed her off. I even started avoiding the training rooms as much as possible the first time she lost her temper.
"-you'll be able to sssell whatever garbage you picked up, though I'd recommend doing that in the next sssettlement over," her voice was an even, cold veneer, her nails digging into my shoulder. She hadn't moved away from it. I glanced at the mini-map and other crawlers with white NPC dots next to them. Their game guides were actually showing them around. "Now if you look that-"
"I can figure it out." Shit. I'd really hated how fast the UI's mind text to talk was and I thought I adjusted the delay enough. I tensed, waiting for the impatient smack. All that happened was her claws digging into my shoulder painfully. She didn't draw blood but it was close. She didn't want to cause a scene. Knowing that gave me enough courage to bat her hand off my shoulder. It wasn't something I'd been able to do in the past, but now with a few more points in Strength, I could. "Stop touching me."
"These are things you need to know, Ghost," she hissed through a fake smile. She moved to grab my shoulder again. Despite wanting to stand my ground with her, I shrank further. "You've been avoiding my room for sssometime and are lacking quite a bit of knowledge."
"I've done pretty good, I think. Gotten three boss kills. Sweet loot." I didn't mention the class or race choices.
"We ssstill have some time on this floor, my dear. You can learn ssso much more." God, her voice sounded like an oil slick in my ears. It vaguely reminded of my last foster parent. Pauline's had been like nails on a chalkboard. You don't have to worry about her anymore. Worry about the now problems! I reminded myself. I stepped further away from the naga, nearly stumbling over my feet. I wasn't used to the new body or race enhancements.
"Think I'm better off without your lessons. You said it yourself: third floor, we're done."
"I can still be summoned into safe rooms on this floor," she grinned. I shook my head.
"Not if I don't go in." A flicker of oddly-placed concern etched on her snake features.
"My dear, we've talked about this-"
"No. I'm done with your games. I'm on my own anyway on the fourth floor. I'll be fine now." Already, I could feel myself going translucent. It was an odd feeling, one I hadn't been able to find the words for. Either way, I was grateful my scarf had this ability. "Bye Selossia." I ran, Selossia's hissing and the loud buzzing in my head echoing behind me.
Walking through the small settlement hadn't been too bad. Of course, when you're near invisible, it makes dodging around crowds a lot easier to manage. There were shops, a few guilds, and several safe rooms scattered throughout. There were lots of alien races and the settlement was built like one of those stereotypical small towns from TV. I could even hear vendors at various market stalls hawking their wares. Though when I began browsing about, I quickly noted the shops price-gouging the few crawlers about. Seemed like Selossia was at least right about waiting to sell some shit.
I scratched at the back of my neck. The buzzing around Selossia had died down the farther I was from her, but every so often, it popped back up. Sometimes it would be faint, like a chill breeze over my skin. Other times, it was louder and the hair on my neck and arms would stand up. Simultaneously, I felt like I needed to run or hide. The buzzing turned to clanging when I walked past the level 75 guards. I avoided them since.
My race description had mentioned something of a "danger sense", but I was so uncomfortable with Selossia's commentary and questions that I only skimmed the stats and abilities I got. What I did remember was that the "danger sense" was some kind of biological alert system to danger. It made my reflexes faster. I certainly noticed I'd been able to dodge impending people crashes easier. But I wondered just how good the "danger sense" really was? It kept going off at random times and at different levels. Was it actually picking up on dangerous folk around here like the guards or was I just being paranoid?
The description also mentioned something about wall crawling. Turning to the wall, I put my hand against the wood slats. My hand stuck to it. Pulling away, it felt like I was pulling velcro apart. It didn't hurt, tickled maybe, but didn't hurt. Would it work with my shoes on? I pressed my foot against the wall…and my foot didn't slide down. Carefully, using hands and feet, I climbed up the wall. Then I crawled along the wall. I grinned. Climbing onto the roof, I parkoured from one roof to the next. I climbed up chimneys, walls, leaped across alleyways. I was getting the hang of my higher dexterity and acrobatics skills, pulling off gymnastic feats that I wouldn't have considered trying even before the dungeon.
The only thing I couldn't figure out was the web-spinning. I was part spider, I knew I had spinnerets like a spider. I tried throwing webs a few times, but they'd either go too long and or fall short. Or would bunch up at my wrist, which was a little painful. It was frustrating. Beyond the small settlement, I could see ruins where I knew mobs would be. Grinding for experience and practicing my new skills would work better out there. I might even come across one of the bigger settlements and hunker down around there. Besides, I didn't want to chance coming across Selossia again, especially now that she could leave her room at least a short distance.
It was time to leave.
Gathering myself up, I ran along the roof of a warehouse-type building. What I intended was to make the leap to the next building across the alley. What actually happened was the gutter broke under my foot, taking a few of the roof shingles with it. With a shriek, I fell into the pile of junk with a loud crash. I groaned in pain. My health bar flickered a few points down, but I quickly regenerated. I let my head fall back, ruminating on that failed leap. I needed to figure this web thing out. "Hey kid, you okay?" My eyes snapped opened.
A dusky gray, devil-looking man in a nice, three piece suit was walking towards me. He had black wings folded neatly behind him and a tail slowly swishing back and forth. His black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. My newfound "danger sense" didn't buzz around him. It was oddly quiet. The AI provided me with his ID:
Mordecai - Incubus. Level 50.
Manager of Dungeon Crawler Donut.
This is a Non-Combatant NPC.
Incubi are the male counterparts of the infamous Succubus. The smooth, seductive, and ultimately deadly Incubus can be identified by his stunning good looks, and exquisite charm. They can only be found on urban levels of the dungeon. They give new meaning to the phrase, "hit it and quit it."
Huh, interesting. In trying to get up, I didn't pay attention where my hand went until it slipped into something wet and gross. I gagged, quickly shaking my hand off. A deep chuckle grabbed my attention again as the incubus - Mordecai - badly hid a smirk. "You look pretty stuck, kid. You need help getting out of there?" I shook my head, still trying to wrestle myself out. The pile shifted and I yelped as I sunk deeper. A dusky gray hand reached for mine, only to stop when I flinched. Mordecai held his hands up. "Easy kid. I just saw you crash land and figured you might need help." Slowly, he lowered his hand, offering it to me.
Maybe it was because my head wasn't buzzing. Maybe it was just how weirdly kind the incubus's eyes looked. Or maybe it was the broken wood digging further into my back and I did actually need help out of the garbage pile. Either way, I hesitantly took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. As soon as I was on my feet, I snatched my hand away. "Thank you," I signed.
"You're welcome," he replied. He eyed me up and down for a moment, enough that I took a small step back. "New race?" I nodded, hugging myself. I glanced up to see his eyes glaze over momentarily. "Arachnoid. Interesting choice." He seemed to sense how uncomfortable I was and started backing away. "If you're having trouble with the spinnerets, try stretching your wrist to release the fluid. You need a way to force the silk secretions out. Stretching will clear the way and prevent blockages in the glands."
That…made perfect sense. It sounded a lot like Spiderman. I looked down at my jacket sleeve, folding up the fabric. Just below my wrist, I could see the small protrusion there. Pressing down, spider silk oozed out. It was the same on the other wrist. Remembering the classic Spiderman movement, I shot a line out. It snagged delicately on the roof. Giving it a tug told me it wasn't breaking or coming off. Grabbing hold, I leaned back and leaped upward, pulling myself up by the line. I landed on the roof - that was 20 feet up - stumbled, but kept my balance. Mordecai was at the entrance of the alley now. He watched with a weirdly torn expression. "Thank you," I signed again. He gave me a small, crooked smile.
"Listen to that danger sense. It'll save you." His eyes unfocused and he suddenly looked tired and years older. "Be careful, kiddo."
I shyly waved and took off running. When I got two buildings away, I looked back. The incubus was still standing there, watching me. He rubbed his hand over his face, turning towards the nearest tavern. A part of me wanted to turn back and ask him for help. He seemed to know what was up with my abilities and, most importantly, my danger sense was quiet around him. He felt…safe. Well, as safe as this place could be. No, I needed to get out to the ruins and practice. I wasn't going to get better without it. Giving one last look to the tavern door where Mordecai disappeared, I turned my back and jumped for the next roof.
It was time to get to work.