Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A falling feeling in which she felt like she was drifting through the world.

 
The world reversed and I saw from above a time long past. All I bore witness to, was an ancient city reduced to rubble where only those beneath rats dwell. The walls were carved out of stone, the city lowered into a giant pit with seemingly no escape.

 
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]

Gyaaaaaah!

‘Ah what a weird feeling.’ My sisters had told me to expect such a thing. I had gone in with what I thought of as clear expectations related to that. But still, experiencing it with my own soul was all in its own a much harsher reality.

Then my eyes opened.

Gyaaaaaah!

My head, everywhere I looked the system screamed at me, words flying through my mind over and over again. Jerking my head away, it screamed at me even more. I couldn't understand the words, I couldn't see nor hear any of it. Not like this, closing my eyes the screaming at last stopped.

But the headaches remained as I sucked in breathe after breathe. Ah that was far too painful.

Luckily I didn't make any sound in real life. Ha take that! All my sisters constantly said I'm too quiet, even holding my voice in while in pain. Well now it just saved my life. But what even happened? And why did it happen?

I sat slumped against a ruined wall in the corner of an ancient city. I couldn’t quite gather much in the way of information so I decided to simply sit still. A few seconds passed and other than a few groans of pain and the silent shuffling of a figure a few buildings down, nothing. When the time was flowing back, I could have sworn there was more to it than this.

Was everyone here a slave? That didn't make much sense, no one here seemed to be working on anything. And there was no one to force the people here to work on anything. If there was the people here wouldn't be spread out in the way that they were. Were the inhabitants unable to leave? Was leaving this pit the way to escape this Nightmare?

After triple checking to make sure I'm safe, not daring to open my eyes. I opened my runes as was taught time and time again by my older sisters.

Name: Hiro

True Name: ---

 
Rank: Aspirant.

 
Soul Core: Dormant

Memories: ---

Echoes: ---

Attributes: [Appraisal] [Mark of Divinity] [Child of Spiders]

Aspect: [Follower of the Spider]

Aspect Description: [The Spider has always been closely tied to the strings of fate. Following, and even being taught by the original Weaver, the Spiders gained followers of their own. Blessed by the spider those followers gained nothing more than a chance at bearing witness to such weaves.]

"Tch.' Pausing in surprise at my own outburst, she rechecked her surroundings. Luckily nothing was drawn her way. Taking a silent breath she reread the runes in front of her.

This… This was hardly good at all. What does that description even mean? Well maybe it could be useful in other ways. Thinking back to my siblings, none of them had such vague descriptions for their aspects. I wasn't really sure if vague was good or bad in a case like this.

But bearing witness? No, not even that. Only gaining the chance to bear witness to such weaves as it says. That makes it sound like nothing can actually be done or applied with my aspect, right? That's just great!

To be honest I also had no idea anything about Weaver other than he was a Daemon. Many would say the worst of them all. Following Weaver was hardly a good sign in my eyes. And yet I'm apparently a follower of a follower of Weaver. I'd much rather just be a follower of Weaver instead of by proxy.

But perhaps the spider could be related to my mother, who held the Beast lineage herself. Who's to say the dormant ability won't be any good?

Aaaah this is too much…

No, no. That didn't matter right now. I should focus on the attributes, right. One of them could prove very helpful. That must be true, definitely.

[Appraisal] Attribute Description: "Turning your gaze on anything or anyone can help you gleam even the greatest of secrets."

[Mark of Divinity] Attribute Description: "You bear a faint scent of divinity, as though someone briefly touched by it once, a long time ago."

[Child of Spiders] Attribute Description: "Spiders recognize you as one of their own."

…

…

WHATTTTTTTT? WHY IS IT ALL SO VAGUE?

I am so doomed! None of these could be used in a fight! I'm going to die!

Okay, okay take a deep breath. To be fair, Appraisal was pretty easy to understand. I could already think of a few ways to test it right now if nothing else. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's the whole reason for the headache I have.

Which means testing is going to more mean limiting what the Attribute tells me. Oh please any of the gods, grant my wish that I can do such a thing.

But the other two?

Mark of Divinity was seemingly useless for me. After all from what I could see, there was nothing here that could lead to me using sorcery which it's supposed to help. Perhaps there's a sacred place in this nightmare that it would allow me passage to but that's wishful thinking at it finest.

Regardless immediate benefits are none at all. So it'd only be useful if I survive and even then not many people have uses with it their entire lives. The few that do obtain it.

And lastly, Spiders recognize me as one of their own? What, do the bugs on earth love me now or something? What good was that?

Sure there were the nightmare creature spiders of many different types, but what good could that be? Nightmare Creatures were just as likely to eat their own if no humans were around so it's especially useless.

They might not eat me immediately I suppose, but eventually I'll still be eaten!

Okay, okay. Despite all that and (seemingly) no combat capabilities to speak of I needed to plan something. Anything. As much fun as it was to sit here doing nothing, I couldn't just sit here doing nothing forever.

Yet I am scared of opening my eyes again. Okay just focus. Picture not seeing anything extra such as information about the walls and floors.

I breathed in then out, and at last opened my eyes once more.

The world was cold, dark, the sun above was covered by a thick cloud. The pit I'm in only making the darkness worse, as the shadows from the 4 walls hanged over all. Hmm nothing, I had a faint headache still but nothing popped up. No words struck into me. I focused on the wall and what I wanted.

[A regular old stone wall.]

Wow. So wise.

And then it was gone, a buzz was faint in the back of my head and I knew for sure it was passive but I could block it out. Perhaps it's about shifting focus, but even the voice isn't active so it was hard to be sure how it worked. Oh well, trial and error I suppose.

The darkness was not too bad either, not too suffocating. My vision is good from all my time spent with my older sister who stays far from the sun but not this good.

Child of Spiders perhaps? That'd be a neat side effect, it's not so good that I can see into the darkness of a building across from my own. But good enough I'd be able to see a shifting person should there be one.

Standing up I began moving. Slowly, not quite shuffling like the aimless figure I will be sure to avoid. But not going fast, as to look like I'm up to anything. As to look like I am abnormal. Obviously I don't know the norm here nor what is out of it but hey. A girls gotta try.

1st Nightmares are usually pretty short, average being less than a week total, which means the goal can't be so insane such as gathering all these boney looking people for some sort of armed revolution. I feel that'd be straight up impossible.

In fact some of my sisters finished theirs in just a few hours. So here's hoping it's that simple, then I can go home and shower. Eat some good food. Only unfortunate part then would be having to actually prepare for the solstice.

The ruins of this city are surrounded on all four sides by straight walls. Carved out of the stone but in seemingly rough shape. Yet from above I could see that the walls reached further than just the surface. It was hard to tell by how much but it was quite a bit. Meaning of course that, even should I somehow climb all the way up. I would still have to climb all the way down.

I can't do that.

Looking atop them reveals… Nothing, not a guard in sight. Are we really not trapped here? Then why…

The person who's body I am inhabiting is skin and bones too. In fact I can't tell what in this place these people are eating.

But in seemingly better state than most of those around me. Was this body brought here recently? The rags I'm wearing act as a cloak, even going so far as to have already been wrapped around my head. Dirt covers me head to toe which is more than a little bothersome to my own psyche.

There is however, nothing nearby that I can gather looks like a landmark. The buildings all look the same bland color, none of the people stand out either. The closest to a landmark would be the towering walls above. But I couldn't see any staircases so its quite a mute point, isn't it?

Huh?

What?

I couldn't see any staircases on the walls, me? This city is massive, the furthest wall is miles away. I'm only close to one side. Yet I can see the furthest, and even make out detail of them.

Is this Appraisal? Perhaps helping my eyes is a side effect of allowing me to read into things. Or maybe it's Child of Spiders again? How good is a spiders vision anyways?

This is really good. I'm only a aspirant and its this good? I mean its not better than those with aspects related to vision. I can't see pin point accuracy of everything. But my vision still has further reach than it did before.

Aahhhh I'm so thirsty. Poor me, poor little old me. A sigh and then I continue walking. I wish I had an attribute for water, rather than eyesight. Damned be how amazing it is.

I don't particularly want to climb any of these shabby building. None of the people scattered throughout react to my movement, sure. Maybe climbing would change that though. I avoid looking at them though, I mean who knows if they're even people.

I have been told before, looking directly at something or someone could make them notice you. No matter how well hidden you are. Keeping anything, especially Nightmare Creatures in the corner of your vision is the best way to go. So I don't want to look at them. It's far too scary a prospect.

Even if appraisal can tell me something useful, it'd be pretty useless once I'm dead.

The part of the city I'm in sits at a decline, and I couldn't tell if it was natural or caused by perhaps an earthquake. As I walk up a hill I can finally see the full expanse of it's buildings. From the far end to the very center.

I can also see the lower sections of all 3 walls that I couldn't before. No markings, no openings seemingly. Just bare walls. There must be something though, otherwise how on earth did all these people get here.

The center however is different. There's nothing special about it, not really. It's surrounded by clear space on all 4 sides, a building that very clearly resembles what one could call a landmark. But even so there's nothing about it that really draws attention to it. It's a plain, ugly building like all the rest in this city. It's not any taller or shorter. Not wider or thinner. In fact it's quite small compared to other buildings.

Yet looking at it sends a shiver down my spine, something screams at me to stay far far away. There's no people in the cleared space, none that I could see within it's confines.

And just like that, I know it's where I need to go.

Hm, that's very annoying... I really would prefer running away after all.

Chapter Text

Walking through the city made me lose sight of my goal. Not in a philosophical way of course, more a the buildings twist and turn way. I knew what direction I was going to but there was no actual road leading straight to the center.

Luckily it did seem that with the way I was going about it no one actually payed me much attention. A few here and there did glance my way but thee eyes remained glazed over, and devoid of any meaning. Perhaps their heads were just turning and they never even acknowledged my existence.

Well can't say I mind that at all. However none of them really gained me any knowledge. They were all in very similar rags and very similar states of mind. The very few that did mumble, only mumbled incoherent words.

At least they must be incoherent. They weren't in any language I was taught nor were they translated by the spell for me. So dead end after dead end leads me to focus on one other thing in this city.

The buildings.

Most were boring and very samey. They were all carved from the same stone, all of similar shapes and sizes. Sure some were clearly bigger than others but other than that nothing stood out about a single one. I tried picturing them from the sky though or from any angle and I just couldn't manage to figure out what was so odd about them.

Then I looked at the walls once more. The floor beneath my feet, the chairs and the tables, however few were left. They were all made from the stone. The exact same.

If someone, or more likely something had dug it all out, making the walls symmetrical. Every chair looked the same, every table. Exactly the same, as if carved by the same being.

Even looking at the different objects with appraisal didn't give me many hints.

[A regular old stone wall.]

[A regular old Stone Ceiling.]

[A regular old stone vase.]

[A regular old stone table.]

[A regular old stone chair.]

Man this appraisal is so helpful! Thanks system!

I really do hate this stupid uninformed thing...

Despite the useless appraisal I have, one question does pop into my head looking at the descriptors. Why regular? What makes it regular exactly? Nothing, probably. Unless the creator of such things decided it was deemed regular. Decided that it should be named such thing.

It was hard to say how Appraisal worked without future testing, But I'm sure it's like anything else with the system, the system itself translates it. As far as I'm concerned the system has no business translating anything in the spell as regular. Which means whoever made these things deemed it regular, which then means they somehow had an effect on the system.

Spiders and a follower of Weaver. Mother always said Weaver was the creator of the spell, howsoever that was managed she doesn't know. But if the original Weaver taught spiders how to weave as well, and Weaver made the spell personally.

Who's to say whatever a spider weaves wouldn't have an effect on the spell?

But if everything was crafted by the same being, and they made everything the exact same then why were the buildings of differing sizes? Why were some walls lowered, and some ceilings slanted. Part of me wants to laugh it off as nothing, just a random choice made by its creator.

Adding a bit of flavor to the otherwise dull place.

But that was not it. It could not be it. As I turned another corner, then another. Not even the distance between corners, not even the winding streets were identical. Everything in this pit is identical other than the buildings themselves and the streets they are placed on.

With newfound context I could just barely picture in my head what the city may look like from above. Putting together my first sight of reaching the highest point from my original descended position. To what I've gathered from walking the streets themselves.

The buildings at their different angles, if the pit was still flat as I expected was the original intention. Then the raising and lowering, the slanting could all be ways to mimic adding depth. Adding a deeper cut into stone there, another one here.

The winding roads could be a way of adding spaces, gaps between different lines of buildings.

4.

10.

2.

Not even the groupings of buildings were the same.

Perhaps in that case. No, what could only be true in this case was that this indeed was all some kind of sorcery. A rune of some kind, or perhaps even a weave.

Perhaps both.

I however was not that well versed in runes. I learned enough but not enough to decipher what one could mean of this scale. Especially with some of the buildings being more broken than others. Not to mention the slant in the ground from some sort of impact.

Not to mention the fact that I can't exactly picture the whole thing!

I only got s limited view for a few seconds after all.

But if this all really was true. Some sort of ancient sorcery, then I absolutely don't want to meet its creator. I'm only an aspirant after all. It also means I really need to get out of here, as if I didn't already know that. Because it was clearly created with people living here in mind. Which most likely means it has an effect on people. The very best result would have been that the rubble and the now slanted base of it all had long rendered the rune mute.

However I am not one to believe in that. Evidence of most import supporting me on that being the fact I am here. Alive, as well as all the rest. I have been walking quite a while now, and while it has been quiet. Well it has been quiet. No animals, not even rats to chew on. Not even a bug such as a fly or a spider.

Nothing but the humans. Perhaps the humans were eating each other, but with how long it seems this place has been abandoned I had to doubt these people would have lasted so long. No, perhaps the rune kept people alive, even in this broken down state.

Even thinking it keeps us alive, I am not naive enough to believe that whatever effect this particular creation is having was based on some sort of pure kindness from whatever ancient spider may have created it…

I wanna go home now!!!

Please?

The journey to the center was quieter than I imagined, well if you don't count my countless thoughts that is. There wasn't much to see, sure but it was as if the closer you got to the center, the more those around it were dazed. The few shuffling people every street became one or two. Then none at all, and at the center every single person was static.

I could barely even tell they're alive. In fact since I was too scared to use appraisal on them, I wasn't actually sure whether they were alive or not. They were somehow far skinnier than even me and I looked like I haven't eaten anything for a week. Not that this body would have even been having a halfway decent diet before that.

They didn't move a muscle either, completely still and lifeless.

Yet my instincts told me they were absolutely living. That somewhere underneath all… that. They had to be alive. Even though they surely should have starved to death. Or died due to dehydration. Or even the lack of sun in this place unholy place.

I had been walking 3 hours and the clouds never shifted, the sun never peaked through. As if this place was destined to hang in eternal shadow.

Hmm if only I had a shadow based aspect. I'm sure that'd be powerful in this place.

Finally after a very uneventful walk, I reached it. Or more specifically I reached the clearing around the center.

Almost taking a step over that threshold I stopped. Then stepped back. I was always told to trust my instincts, even if nothing in my surroundings supported them.

And right now, at this place. I can feel a scream in the deepest part of my soul, and it's telling me to not be here. It's telling me to run far far away. It was a much more heightened fear than when I was at the very edge of the city, looking from afar.

Instead of the whisper of fear from back then, it ripped through my entire body. Causing me to break out in a cold sweat.

Ahh I hate it! I hate it!

Trust your instincts! That's what I've always been told by my siblings! By mother herself!

But my instincts told me to never get the nightmare seed! Yet here I am.

They told me not to come to the center of the city! Yet here I am.

They're now telling me to enter that building, while another part tells me not to! What am I supposed to do?

So do I chose which one feels more powerful. This is too much! Far too much! I'd much rather be playing games in my own room.

My feet hurt, bare and blistering. The cold stone pierces through me and my body feels tired and limp. I've clearly pushed it too far, not like I was particularly athletic before all this. I was very much so seen as the odd duck out in the family. But this was far more than that, quenched for thirst, hungry.

All of the above. The pressure of this place was astounding. Especially now, it felt like some unknown force was pushing toward me yet something unexplainable pushed back.

Poor me! Poor little me! This is too much, far too much!

Mother was so mean! Why was she so against me not contracting the nightmare spell.

Okay okay, actually I have nothing to say about any of this. Of course my exterior looks the same. I have a good poker face after all. Just another person in rags gazing into space.

Huh I seem to fit in well here…

That doesn't make feel good, you know!

Well I have to make the step. If I don't I'll die here I'm sure of it. On the other hand if I take the step…

Well I'll probably still die here actually.

Aaaaaaand step.

Hah, nothing happened.

What do you mean there's a bunch of boney people standing up behind me that have no business doing so?

Nah that's not happening, I'll just keep walking along. I'll even go a bit faster, not for any particular reason just because I feel a sudden rush of energy. Wow! This body sure is grand. Ignore all the blood spilling from my muscles please!

Oh? Ar those more people walking out from every section surrounding this area right into the clearing I'm in? Stumbling right toward me one might even say? As if I'm target number 1 suddenly?

Nah, my eyes are a bit dizzy that's all. It's just the running, I don't usually do that you know.

Wait I really am getting dizzy.

This body actually is super bad at running! It's not grand at all! No way I'm as bad as this in real life.

I finally reach it, the building. My soul screams now more than ever not to enter but honestly I don't have much time to think about that. I'm kinda surrounded, hello? I don't wanna know what those people want to do with me. So kinda forced into entering now than ever before.

Pushing the heavy stone door, I finally enter it's dark confines. And I mean really dark, my vision doesn't offer much in the way of help here. I'm not blind yet, but if someone were to hide in one of it's corners I'm not sure I'd be able to see them right away.

Speaking of, this building doesn't have much in the way of actual stuff. 4 walls, raised outward with a cone shaped roof. The most interesting thing about it was the fact it wasn't in a state of disrepair. In fact oddly enough, there was nothing in here in way of furniture or living arrangements.

Just a spiral staircase in the middle leading down.

Glancing over the walls again I finally notice the faint sketches on the walls. A mural beginning on one side of the door and ending on the other.

I can't make it all out, faint is really an understatement right now. And considering I have nothing to make a fire. I really have nothing at all to help me. Also considering the scraping against the floor I hear outside, it's about time to go already.

I make one last mental note of the mural, a city with many people protected within it's walls, living with smiles on their faces. Spiders amongst them serving as helpers for all they need…

A few feet away, past a bunch of faint drawings and scribbles. Spiders working to kill all beyond these walls, fighting endlessly against a sea of monsters…

And finally, the very last part of the wall. A desolate population prostrating themselves in front of a giant spider, a spider that was… Burning alive amongst its brethren. Leaving only one spider left with a wound between it's many eyes.

The smallest of them all, yet left alive by whatever killed the other 6 spiders that dwelled within the confines of this city.

Very… creepy. And that was with all the gaps on what I could make out with the limited time I have. It also never showed what could have killed the others, one of them bigger than the rest felt threatening, even if just a mural.

Now time to walk down the steps I absolutely don't want to walk down under any circumstances.

As I went down, it got darker and darker until I could barely see my hand and I was left feeling it all out. Ahhh I really wish I had an aspect related to shadows now. I bet whoever gets one that also lets them see perfectly in the dark would be the luckiest person in the world. 2 worlds even! Probably have an easy life with 0 challenges.

It somehow takes a whole 10 minutes to actually reach the bottom. Luckily I can still see my hand, which isn't much but better than nothing.

My body feels sluggish and tired however. I've pushed it far too much seemingly and now I'm feeling it press down on me like an iron weight.

Luckily I haven't heard anything else walking down the stairs so it would seem the others have finally stopped following me. But it was hard to be sure so pushing myself off the wall I was leaning on, I move forward.

There was an odd feeling, that was very minuscule. All it told me was that I had to keep moving, or I would never leave this place.

Stepping through a door I came face to face with… Nothing.

No really, actually just nothing at all except for darkness greeted me. No light source nor a possible way to light it up could be found. Taking another step, and another then I could no longer see my own hand.

This is truly the worst!

Why?! Why was this place filled with so many shadows?!

I walked forward, there were no walls I could feel on either side which means it must be a pretty big space. I thought about walking along the wall to find it. But I had a weird feeling I'd fall asleep if I leaned on another wall for even a second.

Or something even worse would happen.

So I moved forward with nothing to guide me. And only the small sound of my footsteps to accompany me.

Maybe I am actually nearly done with this ordeal. Maybe it was just a really easy Nightmare all things considered. Yeah! That must be it. If I messed up and looked at someone wrong, maybe they really would have attacked. If I let my fear rule me and never approached the center, perhaps I truly would have perished as another wandering soul of this city.

But I was smart, moved cautiously, kept taking steps toward a goal and now it's done. I just have to reach the end of this space, even as every step I take is screaming to turn and run. I'm sure there's a door or shrine at the end. Maybe I even get something beautiful to see then I get to wake up.

Take that 1st Nightmare! It tried to scare me away for no reason, but I don't fall for any tricks! I'm too smart to fool!

'Ah, a visitor at last.'

…

…

Gyaaaaah!

Chapter Text

'Ah, a visitor at last.'

…

…

Gyaaaaah!

Okay, this time I may have jumped and my face may have lost it's usual blank state. But it's not my fault! It's not everyday a voice enters my mind.

I mean what was that! A Nightmare Creature of some kind?! Horrible, just kill me fast please! I don't even have a weapon yet! I have nothing so just let me die in the easiest way possible, thank you!

'I am no Nightmare Creature.'

Gyaaaah!

That's exactly what a Nightmare Creature would say, you know! Well errr not say? What kind of Nightmare Creature talks?! Oh no, this is a super strong Nightmare Creature isn't it! Is it a Great?! Wait, a cursed?! I'm doomed! I'm so doomed! Just make it quick seriously!

…

…

Huh, why am I not dead yet?

'I won't kill my first visitor in such a long time.'

Gyaaa-! Wait no, this is getting old isn't it? I need to calm down and focus on what's actually happening right now. Wait did it just respond to me not once but twice?

'Of course I can, after all like you yourself said, my voice is in your head.'

Wait wait wait. Maybe it's this darkness. Maybe I've been driven crazy and now I'm imagining voices in my head. Waaaaa, I just wanna go home and play video games. Why oh why am I stuck here.

'Ahhh your eyes don't contain the ability to gaze on this chamber. Well I could help with that Child of Spider, but these chains are limiting me greatly.'

Whaaaat chains, calling me child of spider. Don't tell me you're some spider left here and locked up by some god? Hahaha can't be, right?

'You have good analytical skills, Child of Spider.'

Eh?! You mean to tell me its true?! I'm not setting a giant spider free down here, am I?!

'Well you certainly could do that. However you are the first and most likely last visitor I will have. So instead I ask only one thing. Slay me.'

Slay… You? Ehhhh why would you wish that? Is this the kind of thing where I kill the boss and it's revealed that doing so allowed it to take over my soul?

'Well… I'd be lying if I didn't say that it was something like that I suppose.'

It even told me the truth?! Wow, this thing seems kinda pathetic and easy.

'I can still hear your thoughts you know… Before the Gods and Daemons attacked this place my siblings weaved a lineage and put it in my soul to hide it. Whosoever slays me will obtain said lineage, do you understand?'

Hey, why does it sound so impatient? Show some respect to your first visitor! Of course I understand everything.

'I can't tell if your attitude will be a good or bad thing for what I am going to give you.'

Of course a good thing, I mean I made it this far didn't I? Haha I'm the best!

'This is only the beginning, you know? Your journey will be long and hard. Faced with a great many dangers and trials. I know not of the world you live in but even I understand that much. No I suppose regardless, you'll understand later on. Are you ready to slay me?'

Huh?! Many trials? Much pain? I don't want that at all! I have no desire to grow stronger or anything so please give this oh so amazing lineage to literally anyone else please!

I'm not ready to kill anything anyways, I don't even have a weapon! And besides it's not everyday one gets an audience with a being that has knowledge on both Gods and Daemons. Mother will surely think highly of me if I bring back information she has no knowledge of. I'll definitely be able to slack off for years if I can do that much.

So be ready to spit out all that info, please! I wish for nothing more but to be lazy!

'A greedy little individual, huh? There is not much to tell about my being or this place but perhaps some information could help you in the future. First though, tell me the purpose of this city. If you can't get even that, then I want to tell you nothing.'

How would I know?! All I could tell is the city spells some type of rune but I can't tell which one. This damned petty thing!

Silence stretched on, and for a while I actually thought perhaps I had gone crazy. After all I still cannot see a thing in this darkness but luckily the voice returned after a few seconds. Or perhaps unluckily.

'Interesting, you've managed to learn more than I would have guessed. Yes it is a rune, and beneath that is a weave that was formed. Above is a sorcery to cloud this place. I won't explain all the details but just know it all comes together for a pretty impressive conjuring, much of it beyond my own ability. The conjuring was made in mind of protecting the humans of this place once they were brought here.'

It's described as some sort of great divine thing. But I can tell, the magic does not help the people here. In fact I bet its evil in someway, I just know it!

'Well of course not. I never said that it was only meant for good. We protected humans from the Creatures that existed outside of this city. And in return the magic here continuously drained them of essence that we could use for our weaves.'

Ehhh, well this thing is quite a bit more truthful than I would have imagined.

'I am not a thing. I do believe you should have learned how to directly address me by now as well… No matter.'

Wow this thing sounds like it's really getting mad at me. Good thing it's in chains and I'm not! Hahaha!

'You little… Out of all the people I could have imagined coming to this place, you definitely have the oddest behaviors. Only the eldest was able to watch how fate would unfold sadly but I do hope you feel a bit of pain in order to humble you.'

Well hey, now it's being oddly rude isn't it? I mean I didn't do that much, and its the one asking for a favor too!

And besides if you and your siblings were so great why'd you need a bunch of humans Essence? Why'd you get found by the gods and killed? Why are you locked up while your siblings died.

'Slow down little spider. So many questions, I now see why the second eldest told me good luck…

To answer your questions, we needed essence because of what we were weaving. Creating a lineage is not easy, nor is it cheap. However Weaver gave us a gleam of the future. We knew we were to die and there was nothing we could do to fix it. But like the gods, and Weaver as well, we did not want to disappear forever. We did not wish to be forgotten. So we made a powerful lineage that could fit itself nicely in the spell Weaver has made.'

Ehhh, I don't really get all the details but that sounds like it makes some sense. I don't believe I understand this weaving business though.

'Hm I expected it to be lost to time but I suppose there really are no modern day weavers. Well all the more reason for you to take the lineage.

As for your other questions. The Gods and Daemons that found us paused their useless war and crushed us. They despise Weaver the most and we were disciples of that Daemon. I can't give more context than that without breaking your soul. I live because I was the weakest, and the easiest to control. I live because the gods wished to utilize my threads for their own purposes.'

Okay, okay. I suppose I should thank it for not corrupting me. I never knew spiders could be so smart. Talk about information overload though! I'm gonna need so much time to put this together. Ooo but maybe I can write a book on my discoveries… That's sure to be useful, more lazy points too!

One thing I don't understand though is why this thing wants to die? Why not just set it free?

'Because the gods are not exactly merciful. I am wounded beyond repair. Kept alive by the chains around me, my essence constantly feeds into the humans still alive. Then their essence feeds back into me, for an eternity. All due to the battle within the city breaking the rune in an unsettling way. Working but in a way it was never meant to.

Setting me free will mean I can just stretch my legs before inevitable death. Surrounding these ruins are a great many terrible creatures I am simply too weak to contest.

Besides my mission is to get the lineage into the future and nothing more. So I have no need to do anything but die. My final mission will end once it is passed on.'

Well that answers my other question on the humans who are somehow alive, and me!

Ehhh but thats now the second time the future has been mentioned. Is this thing really saying it knows where I'm from or is it just speaking in metaphors? Like I'm the future generation.

'Spiders can gleam much from the strings of fate. You are from the far future, in a realm different from my own. At the moment you are experiencing your first Nightmare.'

Gyaaaah! That's possible? It knows everything?! How insane is that exactly, I mean will I be able to look at Fate too? No that's not important right now is it? Fate, weaving, it seems to all be very expansive. Far beyond what I can do.

What a jackpot! I wonder what I can do with all of this in the future. Hey Ms. Spider thank you for all the information. Any other amazing things a spider wants to drop on little old me?

Silence stretched for a while, and boy my body was really in bad shape. How would I kill such a powerful creature anyways?

'I really wonder what your life was like to have grown up in such a way...

Regardless, worry not a few steps in front of you is one of my front limbs that was cut off. And between my eyes is a spot where I was struck that has yet to heal. Even a weakling like yourself can slay me.'

I really think that last part was unnecessary you know! I mean it's true and all but still, don't blame me for being a delicate young lady.

But okay, wow this thing is heavy, ah sharp end there. And hupp! Ah got it. So any last words for me? I wouldn't rush your death but my body feels like it's actually shutting down.

'Well yes, the curse of this place constructed by the gods was meant to scare anyone from entering and kill anyone who does enter.'

What?! That's insane! I can't tell if I'm glad I pushed through or not!

'Better to die now than be one of those poor husks out there don't you think?'

Yes yes the spider is indeed correct. I feel myself nodding even through a headache. Taking a deep breathe I charge forward a few steps and lung with the full force of my weak body into where I assumed the weak spot was. I still can't see you know!

I feel a crunch, and blood splatters over me like a shower. Ah I really feel tired now.

'Ah one last thing. The eldest wished to say… D wished to say good luck.'

The voice was fading, by the last word it was so quiet I almost missed it. And a sudden sadness washed over me as I realized I was probably watching the last of its kind perish.

Anyhow why D? What a weird name. Sounds oddly familiar.

[You have slain an awakened titan, Taratect]

What?! It was a titan? I killed an awakened titan?! Me?! Alone?! I mean of course it was weakened, defenseless, and ultimately wanted to be killed but still!

[Unknown strings forged by the many sacrifices of ancient spiders has entered your soul.]

[Your soul bears the mark of divinity.]

[You are a Follower of Spiders.]

[The strings have woven themselves to your soul.]

[Child of Spiders, receive your blessing!]

Wait whats happening? It feels like something just became a part of me? It feels like I can faintly feel my soul before that feeling washes away. My body and my soul are more interconnected I realize with a striking clarity. The pain, the headaches all wash away before crashing down on me before finally stopping, still there but now all too distant.

As if coming together. As if forming something entirely new.

[Wake up Hiro! Your nightmare is over.]

[Prepare for appraisal.]

Chapter Text

[Prepare for appraisal…]

I found myself in a space I had heard all too much about from my sisters. A space between dream and reality. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellation. It was… Kind of boring.

I mean who cares? It was just the inner workings of the Nightmare Spell, or so they say. It did look alive, and I could almost gleam that being able to gaze on this might help me in the future. But still I can't be bothered right now. Let me go home already!

I waited for a few seconds, hoping perhaps I'd get a memory. I mean it was a Titan after all… Alas nothing. I suppose I can't complain, I did get a lineage after all. Directly from the source too. I'm not sure that's ever happened before.

I'm truly a one of a kind girl!

[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]

[A nameless follower wandered the city cursed by the God and the Daemons. Cursed by stagnation and fear, she advanced fearlessly into the heart of that city. Reaching an ancient nest she pierced the darkness, uncovering an unknown lineage.]

[You have defeated an awakened titan: Taratect]

[You have received a blessing conceived by the Divine Spider D.]

[You have achieved the unknown!]

[Final appraisal: glorious! Welcome back Spider.]

Welcome back?! Since when could the spell be so personal? Has it ever been this personal? Not that I know! Is it because the spell was crafted by Weaver so it shares a camaraderie with me? Oh well! Praise is praise as they say. I won't complain if the spell likes me. Might equal more gifts for me later on, although I doubt it.

Also, a Divine Spider. Probably the eldest that other one talked about. It was made to sound like a group effort but safe to say a Divine would have taken on most of the work, thus all of the praise for its creation. Was that being perhaps D?

I wonder what rank the aspect it crafted will be? I assume my current one will evolve into something much more useful, but will it be combat focused or utility? Perhaps it'll be Supreme or maybe I'll even get lucky enough for something of a Sacred rank!

[Dreamer Hiro, receive your boon!]

Ugh thanks for reminding me of the solstice. Hopefully I appear right outside my families citadel when that happens.

[You have been bestowed a True Name: Shiraori]

I nearly fell over even though I'm not sure I'm really standing on anything. A true name?! I had received a true name of all things! I would have never in a million years have guessed I'd get something like this! I don't even just mean as a 1st nightmare. At any nightmare! Not that I plan on going through a 2nd one mind you.

Not even all saints got such things, not even all my older sisters had one. People who get one are looked up to, and worse! Set high expectations! Which means mother will expect me to actually do more than laze around!

[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]

Huh, I'm having an existential crisis over here you know. I mean I know I was hoping for this part but still.

"Yes."

[Dormant Aspect Follower of the Spider is evolving…]

[New Aspect acquired.]

[Aspect Rank: Divine.]

I did fall over this time.

[Aspect Name: Kumo]

Divine… it's Divine. This… This has never happened before as far as I know. Or if it has that person is dead or hidden away.

My entire body was trembling, I didn't quite know how to actually process this. I didn't even think of the possibility of a divine rank aspect because it seemed quite impossible all things considered. I mean how was I supposed to accept such a thing?!

And doesn't this raise everyone's expectations of me even more?! I'm going to go make a new home in a cave, I swear it!

Shaking my head I summoned my runes. After all that was the best way to garner understanding of what the aspect does. For one its kind of a lame name… It means spider, perhaps D has really lame naming conventions. Or the spell chose it.

Aspect: [Kumo.]

Aspect Rank: Divine

Aspect Description: [You are a miraculous spider left behind by a dead clan. As a divine spider, you possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers. However, your existence defined by a clan of spiders is twisted and changing.]

Innate Ability: [Divine Beast.]

Ability Description: [A spider is a beast, and that beast can never be human. It is improper for a spider, let alone a divine one, to walk around as anything that is not a spider.]

That's a lot. On one hand all I can think is that I got extremely lucky to have received such a thing. Even if I don't understand all the workings of it. Especially that it truly was divine in all ways. Even ascended aspects were fought over, let alone transcendent and supreme. Yet I obtained a divine, something far above all of those. There may be many wonderful abilities hidden underneath as the description seems to suggest.

I mean I haven't put much emphasis on this D, who was also apparently divine, but divine was not some run of the mill. It wasn't something that came about often. In fact I haven't heard of anything being divine except for the Gods and the Daemons. There's nothing saying other beings couldn't have made it to that rank but it was just nothing that had ever been recorded. Or if it has I hadn't ever seen those records.

And yet there was one, a Divine Spider who the Gods and the Daemons apparently had to team up in order to defeat. Or maybe not "in order," I assume this "D" wasn't that strong. Or perhaps she was? It's hard to say if the Gods and Daemons were just being petty or if they might've been weary of the situation.

And not only that these spiders formulated a whole plan in the case of their death, utilizing their souls, the nightmare spell, and… Me apparently, allowing for them to pass on a lineage. Even Memories and Echoes were very rare to be of Supreme rank, let alone Sacred or Divine.

But I got one! Me of all people! Who only wished to spend my life in a dark room playing video games.

Yet looking at the innate ability. I can't help but feel a sense of foreboding. As if something inevitable, something truly horrific was about to happen to me. Like I was just pushed off a cliff that would throw my life out of circuit forever. No amount of begging would save me.

Ahhh no. Oh no. This was truly terrible. What to do, what to do indeed.

[The First Seal is broken.]

[Awakening dormant powers…]

I could feel something waking inside of me. I cried out before gritting my teeth tightly, staring into the endless void. I knew what was happening, as it had been explained many times to me before. Yet feeling it now, I knew it was something I could never have prepared for. I could feel my soul, and it shook as an energy from within me spread. As though it was waking up from a dream and was now stretching its legs.

The energy filled every fiber of my being. My emotions became clearer and sharper, my body was filled with a heat originating from my heart. It burned spreading from my head to my toes, through my organs and my fingers.

But something happened I had not been preparing for. Something happened that was unexpected. And the unusual feeling that was not unpleasant or painful was instead replaced by a great deal of pain. The fire burned brighter, hotter, and spread faster. My bones, muscles, organs and blood vessels were not just being rebuilt and revitalized. I was not just becoming stronger, faster, and healthier.

The euphoric feeling was not there as it should be.

No.

I screamed, or I would have if I could. I would have if my mouth had not twisted. My bones cracking and breaking, my skin and muscles pulling and changing. The transformation becoming only more profound, the pain only becoming more clear. Unlike any I had ever felt before.

It was a monstrous agony. Piercing every part of my body. Piercing even my very soul, as if ripping it apart. Perhaps I was actually dying now.

And then… Nothing.

It was not a void I was looking at anymore. And I realized I had blacked out. Or considering my thoughts were clear while the pain had been whisked away. Perhaps my body was no more, and all that was left was my soul.

As if a blindfold being taken off I could see again. But it was no longer the void that I saw, but instead white. And with that white, threads that looked like spider silk stretched all around me. I realized with a start that it was my soul sea.

Well good thing I'm not dead! I really thought I was a goner for a second.

I could see a sun, or what was supposed to be a sun covered instead fully by more threads. Or perhaps I should call them spider webs which they look to be. Instead of a sun filling my Soul Sea with warmth, and a blinding light. All I get is shade, and a slight cold as the webs surround me.

Then my vision doubled and I could once again see the void populated by an endless patter of stars. My body was back.

Gwaaaaah!

This isn't my body at all?! How does something like this even happen? I tried to scream just now, but I can't even manage a groan.

Okay calm down. I don't feel any pain again thankfully.

Instinctively, I shrink away, moving so as to ascertain my body is fine and healthy. Lack of pain is a definitive good sign right?

But as I try to look behind me I realize with a start my neck won't move. Despite that, at the edge of my peripheral vision, I can see what appear to be my legs.

………Spider legs.

Ooooooooooooookay, dooooon't paaaaniiiic!!!

This isn't actually happening right?! It can't be though! This can't be happening! Please someone tell me it's not actually happening!

I glance down again. There are thin, wiry legs, just like those of a spiders you can find in any picture book. Yep. I suppose I have to face the facts. Apparently I am a spider.

Unreal.

Right when I feel ready to break down, scream some more, cry for justice, the spell decides to interrupt me. Pulling me right out of my Soul Sea.

[Awakening Aspect Ability…]

Should I be looking forward to this? I suppose I should, my mind is still distracted. But better distracted by multiple things than focused on the horror of the changes to my body.

After all Divine Aspect or not, spider or not, my immediate future depended on the first aspect ability I would receive. Everything and anything I could do depended on that. With the fact I can't seem to speak, tied with me no longer being a pretty young girl, it might be more important than most others.

I couldn't even tell if I wanted a utility or a combat ability anymore.

[Aspect Ability acquired.]

[Aspect Ability Name: Thread Control.]

I unhurriedly summoned my runes. My mood still killed as I re-looked over everything I had going for me thus far.

Name: Hiro

True Name: Shiraori

Rank: Dreamer

Soul Core: Dormant.

Soul Fragments: [0/1000]

Species: [Small Lesser Taratect]

What do you mean species?! Is that what I am? Isn't small and lesser a little much? I'd much rather just be small or lesser, or none at all!

…

Moving on.

Memories:—

Echoes: —

Attributes: [Appraisal] [Mark of Divinity] [Child of Spiders] [Skanda] [n% I=W]

Aspect: [Kumo]

Aspect Rank: Divine.

Aspect Abilities: [Thread Control.]

Aspect Ability Description: [Webs are a spiders most useful tool. You have total control over every thread you produce.]

Suppose that confirms as a spider I can make my own webs. That does sound useful despite the drawbacks here. I had to face reality a little though, I am a spider. Time to make the most of it, and having total control over threads leaves a lot open to interpertation doesn't it? Means sky is the limit. Or maybe even beyond that if those threads also serve uses in weaving.

Also I have 2 new attributes which is more or less unheard of. I mean having 3 attributes was already quite something. No attribute to produce thread however which most likely means certain traits of my species have to be learned by myself.

Before I could dive into the new attributes though, the spell interrupted me once again with yet more information. Ah, my head hurts. Let me sleep.

[All power has a price.]

[You have received a Flaw.]

[Your Flaw is: …]

Wow how underwhelming…

Chapter Text

Flaw: [Pride]

Flaw Description: [Everyone is beneath you.]

Wow! What a dumb flaw. Everyone was always beneath me! Wait, were they? That doesn't sound right at all. I look up to a lot of people okay! I definitely don't think of humans as bodies meant to carry essence that shall be devoured by me at all!

Huh?! Those weren't my thoughts!

So it has an adverse effect on how I view people around me? Not sure how to feel about this development to be honest.

Well still better than other flaws I suppose. Imagine a flaw like feeling pain every-time you use your aspect. Or not being able to tell a lie. Those would be way worse! Glad I'm not them hahaha!

Ah wait no, I should still be angry about practically having two flaws!

[Wake up, Shiraori!]

Ah well, I suppose it’ll work itself out.

The void spun and disappeared from sight.

Ki Song looked down at the spider which had just broken free of its confines in the chamber where one of her daughters used to be sleeping peacefully.

She closed her eyes, the uncomfortable feeling of the world pushing back on her entire being never getting anymore pleasant. Staying in the waking world was never easy anymore. Especially with the blade now embedded And… She opened her eyes again. This next part never got easier either, did it?

No. Hiro and her never really got along, and she never truly showed the same reverence for their mother as her other sisters either. Not that Song had ever demanded such a thing from her daughters.

However, even if Hiro was a young girl from nowhere that she picked up on a whim believing she found a diamond in the rough. Song did still care for the girl in her own way. And Hiro was growing up into a beautiful young lady as well. She was somewhat looking forward to seeing what Hiro would look like as an awakened.

Song was a bit worried for Hiro, she never had the same drive for power that most of the daughters had. Nor drive for anything of note, really. She spent most of her time either in the Jade Palace reading in the caverns below. Or in the waking world playing some game on a computer.

It had already been two weeks within the confines of the spell and Hiro showed no signs of waking. Which was both a horrible sign and a good one. After all it meant Hiro as an aspirant was able to stay alive for two weeks.

As it is the day of the Solstice however, Song somewhat hoped she would not wake today either.

But now, she realized she would have greatly preferred Hiro awakening before falling back under only moments later.

Song raised her had, her will crashing over the room. The spider was not attacking mindlessly, most likely a somewhat smarter Nightmare Creature even if it only just came into this world. And as her hand raised it even seemed to back up as if sensing something behind its eyes.

Song might've been more curious if she was not still mourning Hiro. After all, any of her daughters that perished deserved to be mourned by their mother.

Even if only for a minute for the rest of time. Song would take the time to mourn their passing. She must, it's what kept her human. It’s what kept her attached to all her daughters.

A sword materialized in her hand. Yes, she must kill it with her own hand, even if Revel had offered to relieve her mother of the standby. Although Song expected that was more due to the fact that Hiro had a closer bond with Revel than any of her other daughters.

The spider stood no chance, how could it with Song's will locking it into place? How could it when Song pierced it's Opisthosama?

The spider struggled still, not dying with one strike. Blood drained from it's body. Blood, Song would collect, from a body she would not. She would not use her own daughters corrupted forms as part of her army. It struggled more without a sound before finally falling still under Song's watchful gaze. It's eyelids shut as if falling into a peaceful dream. In much the same way Hiro would have should she have woken just in time for the solstice.

Silence stretched for a second, then 5, before finally turning into a whole minute.

"What?" Song was confused for the first time in at least a decade, the creature was clearly dead. By her own blade, and yet the spell never spoke. Never announced a kill that was hers. Her teeth gritted as her eyes narrowed. No.

No.

That was not possible. And yet the minutes past, time solidifying thoughts that seemed impossible.

Was this actually her daughter? This spider? Was this some form of aspect or flaw and she had just killed Hiro? No because even that would have notified her through the spell. Her face went blank. How was a mother supposed to react to this revelation exactly? She hadn't the faintest of ideas.

Hiro had woken as a spider matching exactly how a Nightmare Creature would look. Her body was destroyed, yet at the same time she went into the dream realm. She must’ve passed out from the blood loss. And despite all odds, that soul had survived the situation meaning she is now a lost.

True name. Hiro must have a true name from her First Nightmare. It's extremely rare for an awakened to survive becoming a lost of all things. Let alone a dreamer. But a true name would definitely make that chance higher.

Song smiled despite herself and despite her lack for what many would call real motherly affection.

Hiro was alive.

Gwaaaaaah!

I couldn’t let out a groan, I couldn’t even scream for mercy. Ruthlessly and without any sight of care I was killed in the same manner I was adopted. Without debate, or even a word to the otherwise.

That was how I died.

Like a spider would feel being crushed under a foot. Nothing more than nothing.

I was weak. Therefore I never amounted to anything. Therefore I was below even the tiniest of insects compared to the power mother possessed. Therefore my fate could not be changed.

…

…

Oh? If I died why is it that I can still think and lament over said death? I had the same question I’ll have you know! My answer? No idea! Why am I talking to no one but myself right now and acting as if someone is asking me questions?

…

…

Oh look, I believe I hear something.

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Hiro!]

Jeez so enthusiastic isn’t it? I guess this confirms it though, I am alive. I might just be the luckiest sleeper in the history of sleepers. Ah but doesn’t this mean I have no body to return to? Meaning, even if I reach a Citadel and then its gateway I’m doomed.

If I have no body to return to that would mean I can’t go to the waking world until I become a master. To become a master I would need to be an awakened. Well that’s not right. Technically you can challenge a second nightmare before awakening that just never happens. On account of the fact its crazy!

Wait speaking of crazy. I’m still in this void, you know? Hellooooo? Shouldn’t I be in the dream realm by now? Oh know, don’t tell me by soul got lost in transit. Or worse I am in the dream realm and this is just how it looks here.

Which is worse exactly? Being lost in transit or the void itself being the dream realm? I suppose being lost would include the possibility of being found at least.

…

…

I’m actually getting bored here… Let’s think of next plans for a second then. Humans? Enemies. Nightmare creatures? Enemies. I have 0 friends, huh? I mean I have 0 way of communicating so most would probably attack me on sight. Why wouldn’t they?

I’m well and truly alone now.

…

…

I really have nothing to think about. Runes!

[Skanda] Attribute Description: “Your speed is much higher than others.”

Ehhh I guess that sounded useful. Not sure how fast spiders usually are but any speed increase is better than none for sure. Now for the odder sounding one.

[n% I=W] Attribute Description: “Your ability to drain essence is greatly increased.”

Hmm despite the name this one is clearly amazing. I imagine getting stronger will end up being a need rather than being something I don’t want to do now. So any flat increase will greatly help my chances. Until I hit the max of course in which case I am so doomed.

…

…

Wow I’m really still sitting here.

“Hiro is dead?” Revel felt a pain at those words. She hoped beyond anything her younger sister would have survived.

“I’m afraid so. Please relay that information to your sisters.” Mothers voice was the same indifference it always was. Always has been. The same indifference she knew she could never convince to spare Hiro from a 1st nightmare.

“I understand.” At last Revel bowed slightly before making her leave.

Outside in the halls she allowed herself to slump lightly. Perhaps she should have convinced mother after all. Maybe she would have understood Hiro was just not up to the task. But no, no. Mother never spared any of the daughters of Song. They all must contribute to the clan.

Revel herself could have brought forth the head of a Great Titan and she probably wouldn’t have budged.

Revel did plan on hiding Hiro away once she was awakened though. No matter what mother said otherwise, she would have done that much. In all honesty she was hoping Hiro would obtain some utility aspect that would support her endeavor.

She cared sincerely for the young girl. Perhaps it was wrong of her to play favorites amongst the younger sisters but she couldn’t help herself. They simply connected more than the others. Due to a multitude of reasons.

Revel stopped walking for a minute and looked out of the Jade Palace at the dark skies above. It would be sunlight soon. And she would no longer have a younger sister who would stay in the caves below doing whatever fancied them.

Revel wished to see what the young girl would look like as an awakened. After all, as a normal human, Hiro already looked more beautiful than some of the Song sisters who were masters.

What a melancholy feeling… Revel had not felt so upset about a sister dying in a while. She had grown used to it despite not wishing to. Used to the fact that many of them perished. What blind hope did she hold onto that Hiro would make it no matter what?

Perhaps it was the tenacity she showed despite a clear reluctance to do anything at all.

Tearing her gaze away from that sky above the Lightslayer moved on once more. There was much to do before the sun cast its gaze on this place once again.

Chapter Text

Opening my eyes and all my eyes bear witness to is an army of spider.

Wuhhhh. Ewwww! Why?! Of all the places to wake up!

Luckily none of them rush over to eat me but still. It’s quite disgusting you know! It made me almost forget I’m a spider as well. Of course I looked nothing like the other spiders of this nest. It was hard to say if I’d ever find Nightmare Creatures that look like me. But they did still ignore my presence so that was fine.

Especially as a few near me were partaking in a feast of their fallen brethren, ugh. All the nests seemed cold and long empty. In fact they all looked like they had been empty for a long while.

These peculiar spiders had an iron covered body, they were not too small and they seemed somewhat mindless. Not acknowledging each other in any way. Probably awakened beasts then.

There in the middle of the room I saw something that told me why exactly they seemed to have no cohesion.

That is one big spider… I walked closer, keeping my eyes on those walking around, especially the few that went near me. I wondered briefly if killing a spider would turn the others aggressive to me. Ah, better not to risk it.

The whole nest seemed to all be threads strong as iron as well, I was walking around them pretty gracefully for my first time on so many feet. I doubted my threads would be this strong as well though sadly. I’m not even awakened after all.

Reaching the giant body of a supposed mother, there was a definitive wound in it. Something had killed it long ago, and considering other spiders were alive it was probably a human who wanted something from it.

However the gaping hole in the abdomen looked much more recent. And inside was the shattered remains of five giant metal eggs. Ahh well, good thing those are gone. With how big all of that is I can’t imagine they’d be very friendly. Just to be safe I shouldn’t hang around here. Lest the last of this things children decide to eat me because I look like a nice snack!

embedded in the walls around me were many other Nightmare Creatures of various kinds. Part of me wished to explore their remains, after all knowledge of potential enemies could be quite amazing. However one glance at all of them and it was obvious that they were incubators. The feeling I had was a bit sickening, as I saw all of the tiny eggs leaking out of bursting wombs in every corpse.

Then in a far off section of the nest I saw something that made me wish to puke. A clearly recently dead human was there attached to the wall. Probably another sleeper as unlucky as I am to have come to this dreadful location. Of course he didn’t have a way to avoid becoming a nice body for the spider to use like I did.

Whelp lucky for me!

Aha, time to go. Yep! This place is horrifying!

Although just the site of me brought a new theory to mind. I was in that void between the world and the dream realm for a while. And this kid here has been dead for a while now. A few weeks, maybe even more than a month. Ahh don’t tell me time jumped between me traveling to the dream realm and waking up.

I mean I would have died from starvation so it wasn’t like this body was sitting here the whole time but still. I can’t really say I regret not being able to save this guy though. Chances are I wouldn’t have been able to even if I tried.

I did consider momentarily the possibility of cutting the poor guy down. But I really didn’t want to even tempt the spiders around me into attacking. Also who could say I could cut it down? I’m not even an Awakened. Just a poor defenseless sleeper.

As they say safety is the best possibility. As I make my way out of the nest I’m greeted to a great and empty landscape.

It also doesn’t fail to come to my attention just how naturally moving in this body came to me. As if I was made for it. That thought alone creeped me out. But I was able to move through the threads, exit the nest, and even crawl upside down or on the side of things with no issue.

So not like I could complain or anything. Well I could, but I’ll save any complaints for later. Having far more eyes than before was disorienting, especially as the world opened up and my attention was called to multiple spots at once.

For one, this particular nest seemed to be underneath a statue, far up from the ground. Skittering along I could also see a lack of a head on said statue. A broken bridge to the side, and the other thing of note was multiple tunnels leading off to a different direction. Of course everything on this side of the bridge was covered in iron threads.

I must admit I respect their tenacity, their presumed Tyrant of a leader was dead yet they seemingly kept the place in tip top shape. Although the worst part about what I can see here is of course what I cannot deduce.

Which is to say this is not an area I’ve ever heard of. And while I’ve never left the Song territory in the dream realm, I’ve absolutely read top to bottom on every other area known to man. Using appraisal on the bridge at least showed me something.

Ahh a death zone. Just my luck. One previously undiscovered as well.

Of course the clearly recent corpse of that human signifies I’m not the only sleeper sent here and not even the unluckiest one. But still, my chances do seem pretty slim. If no one has escaped to tell the tale that would mean this area isn’t even bordering one of the others conquered by mankind. Especially means no sleeper has escaped here.

Wait, ‘that human?’ I’m a human too! Uhh whatever. I won’t worry about what effect my flaw has. There are far too many things to be concerned about right now.

Nevertheless I climb all the way to the bottom with amazing speed. Being a spider definitely had its benefits. And off I was steering clear of the other spiders and picking a tunnel at random. I didn’t particularly care for attempting to cross the broken bridge. I thought momentarily about climbing the statue itself but I also didn’t want to stay in the center of what these spiders seemed to claim as their own.

---

Nightfall was fast approaching as far as I could tell and all these tunnels look the same. A few clearing here and there and a bunch of iron threads covering it. Even found a few more Creatures trapped throughout the maze. To top it all this place is fully damp. It was the oddest thing ever. I couldn't fathom where all the puddles came from. Does it rain often?

Alas.

Spiders ignored me and nothing attacked me. Of course I am getting very hungry… No fire means no cooking which means… Well I will have to eat everything raw and that was quite unsettling to me.

Ah, well I was clearly reaching the outer lines of the spiders territory. Considering I saw no spiders and nothing else. Thoughts about what comes next have to wait though as a deafening rumbling echoes throughout the entire area.

What?! What is this?!

I looked around me in a panic but no other creatures remained to give me a hint at anything. But there, in one of the branching tunnels leading down I could see water rising with the night.

Nai Wa~~

I looked around me again, the dampness no matter where I went. The pillars and walls of the labyrinth that reminded me slightly of coral. The lack of any very powerful Nightmare Creatures in a place where they should realistically be thriving. The theory that appeared in my head was twisted and not at all pleasant.

But I couldn’t even take the time to worry about that. The water wasn’t exactly slow with its approach. It wasn’t exactly instant either.

How do the spiders survive here? I kept repeating the question in my head again and again. How? How? How?

I rushed up through tunnels, and on the side of pillars. Running and climbing as fast as this new body could carry me. Which surprisingly was pretty fast. I know Skanda is at work here, a passive that was pushing me further and further along. But if I had to guess, even with my smaller body I was faster than any sleeper. At least ones without some aspect related to speed. Which would mean just one attribute is seemingly helping me along better than some aspects out there.

None of this would help me of course, not really. The spiders had a nest that if I was correct also sat under the water. At least with what areas are wet and what aren’t, that whole statue would have sat nicely into the water. Maybe the top was spared but that’d be it.

Point is if I’m correct there is nowhere nearby that is tall enough for me. And I’m not sure if swimming is possible in my current body. Nor do I wish to test such a thing.

As for how the spiders survive… Well the water is rushing up now so we’re about to find out how it works. I run through tunnel after tunnel trying to find what I’m looking for.

And finally I find it. A small rise in the ceiling of a tunnel that leads to a small opening. Not that I’m particularly small of course. In fact if my last body were to ball up it’d fit on my current. The water was reaching the floor of this tunnel by the time I found it so I’m just in time to either drown or live.

Then… Well nothing. I’m a genius after all. Air is lighter than water, and the pressure of the fast rising water has kept this place from being drowned luckily enough. A small little air pocket for me and me alone. If I could, I would let out a sigh of relief as the water stilled. Of course everything else depended on me being still but not like I can make a movement any-which way without making a splash.

I imagine this is how the spiders survive with that nest too. It probably is its own small manmade air pocket.

The water gives me a very odd feeling, one that’s filled with danger. Even if I could swim, it would be better avoid the water at all costs. Which leaves me a lot of time with my thoughts. After all I didn’t exactly have anything here suited to entertain me. I had to assume the water would leave sooner or later, preferably sooner of course.

I can’t exactly predict how long the air will last. Or even something like if CO2 poisoning would be lethal to a spider. But I’ve heard many such stories of awakened spending days in an air pocket. I’ve also heard talk of caves full of air under the Storm Sea. So hopefully it works out for me too.

Another thought is the threads. I suppose those iron threads can last through even the rise of the tide? I sorta doubt they replace every single thread every single morning. It at least signifies that if there are a different species of Nightmare Creature swimming through the water, they avoid those threads.

Ahhh what an interesting area of the dream realm this is. It would be a lot better in any other situation but I suppose I should thank my new body a little. I most definitely would have died by now if not for the fact that I could climb and move so fast. Stuck somewhere as water overwhelms me.

All of my eyes stare into the water, I am actually somewhat tense right now. Just because I think the threads mean nothing comes through here doesn’t mean nothing will. Something could be making its way to me right this second after all. I focus on the water itself, and appraisal comes to life.

The water? You’re talking about the water?!

I shove myself back as far as I could go. Which… Wasn’t anywhere at all but still! The sea! It’s a whole Nightmare Creature! How was that even possible? No, how did it not kill everything within it by now? Of all the places to wake up in!

It could also be saying it’s just a name. But who names a sea? The walls don’t have a name. Nor does it say its a sea of the Forgotten Shore. So it must mean that it’s actually it’s own thing.

It must be a Great Titan. At least! Impossible, this place is impossible. I don’t see any other answer but that. Perhaps I did die and this was actually hell now. That’s the only reason a sleeper would be sent to this area.

And yet at the same time what does being tense do for me? What does freaking out? If something attacks I’m dead no matter what. And I assume the sea has no direct way of attacking me right now. Ahhh this dark cramped space sucks. Memories of everything that has happened since my 1st nightmare is replaying in my head and now I wish to cry if nothing else.

I need to calm myself down but how do I do that? What about this impossible situation could lead me to find a way to calm down.

I wish I never got this aspect... I could be home in bed right now but instead I’m cowering from the water and everything else. It’s just… It’s too much. It’s way too much for me. I’m tired, hungry, and still feel the pain of being stabbed and killed.

And just like that, cold and alone. I survived my first night in the Forgotten Shore.

Chapter Text

I’ve decided I should make a home!

After not sleeping much at all, that was my best decision. Staying in the area just outside the spiders seem to me by far the best choice amongst all my options. Which leaves finding a suitable place for a tiny spider to hole up. Which brings us to the current time.

I call this adventure, “searching every single tunnel until we find a big enough space that can last against the water!”

Wow. I need to find a way to shorten that. Or not. Did I mention I’m currently quite famished? I may be somewhat sorta dragging a dead spiders body behind me however. I figured out my threads sorta. I mean some kinda leaked out of me this morning in a not so PG-13 moment. But I can create them at will and lengthen them.

But before anyone judges me, that spider was dead when I found it. I just didn’t have the heart to eat it. I mean both ethically and visually it seems quite disgusting. But wasting it also seems like a bad choice. Plus the spider seemed somewhat pitiful. It’s entire body look mangled in the spot I found it. Must’ve been caught in the water after venturing too far by accident.

Regardless if I eat it or not I will have to find a way to procure food here from other creatures.

I mean I live here now. I can’t live amongst the Nightmares normally, nor can I ally myself with humans. Unless I managed to be lucky enough to find some sort of memory that will allow me to communicate better.

Even if I do find a gateway somewhere I couldn’t use it. My physical body in the waking world was destroyed, killed. The gateway works by transporting your soul from the dream realm into your physical body. So no body? Nothing to do.

Before I can consider the implications anymore on eating a fellow spider or my new life in general, I find exactly what I am looking for. The tunnel lowers before rising heavily leading to an intersection of sorts. Looking at the way the tunnel branches, from there it forms into a T shape. The other pathways also dip before rising, and looking around this section isn’t as damp as everywhere else.

Mission accomplished!

I use one of my legs to cut my thread off, leaving the dead body in a corner before I go off to explore where the other pathways actually lead. One of the pathways leads through a tunnel that goes off in one direction for quite a while, away from spider-land.

The long part of the T leads off into a significantly big clearing of the labyrinth.

Perfect spot has been found. Not too many entrances which could allow me to be overwhelmed but enough where my food problem could solve itself.

I mean, how do spiders build a safe place to live, and how do they receive food? Their threads of course!

I can produce the threads needed to build a home, and with 3 entrances it should help me receive food as well. Of course if my thread can be destroyed by everything in this place then I’m going to need to think of something else but for right now, this is the best plan.

I can make thread somewhat at will now but this still might take just a bit of time.

Finished! The threads were actually quite easy to manage and shape. A bit of creativity on my end and I was able to string together a magnificent spiderweb up across the cave passage.

Whether natural instincts or by design of some higher being, the moment I began working it was as if my body moved on its own and the web was constructed within minutes.

I left a small hole in the side of the whole thing for an escape route and now I have a totally (hopefully) impenetrable base.

Now all I need to do is catch something in my threads soon. Once I can accomplish that there’s no reason to ever leave. I can simply spend the entirety of my life right here.

To be honest it’s not much different from when I was a boring old human. I mean I attended classes I needed to, and listened obediently to my elder siblings when. And spent time with Revel semi-often. But for the most part I spent all my time in my room. Either playing games or surfing the web.

My elder siblings were all mostly busy managing the Song realm. Fighting, protecting, or going through the Nightmares to grow stronger. And my mother is far too busy herself. So for the most part I was left to my own devices which suited me well.

I wasn’t that close with any of them but I can’t help but slightly wonder if they feel at all saddened about my death.

My relationship with them all was pretty cold just like everything else within the Song domain. Not that they didn’t get along with each other. It’s just that they didn’t get along with me.

Even in MMO’s I’d usually never type in the game chat for any reason. With an old bald guy as an avatar who remained mute. So I built a reputation up for being silent. A strong yet silent type, the kind of good guy who let his actions do all the talking.

I even managed to max out attack power and speed on that one. Leaving everything else untouched. Sure a single hit would kill me but as long I used a hit-and-run strategy and never let myself be hit I was fine.

Hmm

Now that I talk about it in such a way I can’t say I’m missing my family or friends all that much. I’m going to miss Revel a bit but even then. It does make me a bit sad to think I’ll never see that old bald guy again. I made him a legend for being one of the few free-to-play players who could stand up against the paid players.

… In short, I’m more attached to a game character than I am to mother. Or to the majority of my so called ‘sisters.’

I mean now that I’m in the body, living this kind of life, it’s sorta dawning on me I was never too good at being a person.

Although, I suppose believing it’s okay to be a bad person is the first step toward becoming one…

Well that being the case, I might as well say it.

Being a recluse is the best! Whoo-hoo!

A white thread is drawn between my two forelegs.

When I pull on it, it goops and stretches.
Then When I stop pulling, it gradually returns to its original length.

Okay. Nice and rubbery, just like I hoped.

What am I doing, you ask?

Experimenting of course! I mean not much else to do in this fancy new house of mine. And who knows what uses the threads are hiding. For all I know this could save my life one day.

It’s in many ways my lifeline as we speak, err think. So priority number one is testing it’s every use and knowing the extent and limits of the threads.

I started by producing a bunch of it. Differing thickness, stickiness, strength, and elasticity.

Adjusting the thickness was easy enough if I’m being honest. I couldn’t make it invisible, but I could get it about as fine as a strand of hair. In the darkness of this particular cavern it will be hard to spot. Unless everything in the Forgotten Shore can see in the dark…

Moving on!

Following that up with a strength test, I discovered the thinner I made the thread, the more easily it broke. Which all things considered I can’t do much about. Makes sense when you think about it, but still good to check whether or not that’s how it works.

Of course conversely, thickening the thread increases its durability.

The fattest strand I can currently create is a little less than an inch around. Of course if I wanted to make something even thicker I could just make multiple threads and stick them together.

Testing stickiness after that might have been a bad idea though.

I’ve always assumed that all spider threads adhere to everything, but in fact, some aren’t sticky whatsoever. I mean the Iron Spiders don’t seem to have particularly sticky threads themselves. It sorta seems like the biggest purpose is to just be invisible to the eye. Or perhaps lead a creature into running into one. Perhaps something can be learned from that…

Regardless the reason spiders don’t get caught on their own webs is due to their skillful use of threads that don’t stick. I only realized this when my instincts kicked in while building my own home. With that logical train of thought I decided to test how exactly it works and in what ways it can benefit me.

Yeah… So I managed to tangle up my whole body…

Since you have to make proper use of the sticky and non-sticky fibers, it stands to reason that if you don’t, you’ll just get caught in your own threads.

In which case I managed to make myself look foolish by tangling my own body up in it.

Honestly it was to the point where I was freaking out that I might just die stuck in one place. Quite possibly as the dumbest death for a sleeper in the history of the spell. Only thing dumber might be, I don’t know, getting tricked by a rock and stabbed in the back.

Luckily for me though I realized I could still alter the properties of the thread even after the production of it. As long as it’s still attached to my but that is. After getting myself out, I tried modifying already detached threads and it worked only a little bit.

After all that I took a bit of a rest, before testing the strength.

Of course I already was able to learn the thinner the thread was weaker and thicker was stronger, but I wasn’t able to figure out the greatest force it could withstand?

Some may ask themselves why, and that comes down to the fact that when producing a maximum-strength thread, I failed to cut through it no matter how I tried. I couldn’t even chew through it with my fangs.

Which is actually the best news I could ever hear. I mean if I could cut through it as a sleeper that means any awakened beast could tear through it with ease. A sleeper is on the level of a dormant Nightmare Creature after all. Which means all the awakened are a whole rank stronger than what I currently am. I doubt my thread being able to stop a Fallen Beast, which is another rank stronger than an awakened. But with the fact that I can’t even make a dent it should be able to slow down any awakened beasts out there.

Especially when considering the fact they’re not going through just one or two layers of thread. But a dozen or more. Panicking will only get them further stuck too. So all in all it should prove quite effective.

Of course my thought process being between, “Awakened Beast I should be fine,” and “Fallen Beast will kill me.” Leaves a lot of extra blank space of things that can kill me. Beast is only 1 of 7 classes, in fact its the weakest. Going up from that is Monster, Demon, Devil, Tyrant, Terror, and Titan.

Of course I have killed an Awakened Titan but even I have to admit that was a fluke. I’m not going to be able to just go and kill another one in that way. With the Spider Matriarch being a Tyrant considering it was able to lead and control so many minions. I’m not quite sure about trapping one of those either.

I think the max of these threads might be an Awakened Devil and even that’s up to chance ultimately. Regardless the fact I’m somewhat confident up to an Awakened Devil is a miracle within itself. It could be far, far worse such as only being able to wrap up Fallen creatures.

Finally, the last test, elasticity, which brings us to what I’m manipulating right now with my clawed legs.

This more rubbery thread could absolutely come into a good use. With a stone I could probably use it as a sling. And with a bit more creativity they'll definitely be even more uses to it.

All in all spending the day experimenting was a resounding success.

Of course all of the experimenting has caused an entirely different issue. Spinning so much thread seems to have drained this body of all energy.

In other words, I’m extremely hungry right now. I’ve been wanting food since I’ve woken up, but now it’s become impossible to ignore. I feel like I might actually die soon if I don’t eat something.

Strangely enough, I’m not all that thirsty right now.

At this rate, I really will just starve to death. Unable to even see the sun rise tomorrow. Although I probably won’t go see it anyways. Why leave the safety of my cave for that?

If I want to live through the next day, I have to eat something… And all I have on hand is what I dragged along with me through the labyrinth this morning…

Should I eat it?

My only other option at the moment is dying so…

If I’m going to live long-term here, I have to get used to eating monsters raw…

All right. I’m simply going to have to suck it up. Eating a fellow spiders corpse as my first meal after becoming a spider myself seems somewhat irredeemable, but I don’t have much of a choice here. Luckily the state it died it left its iron skin cracked and broken. Allowing it to be easily torn off.

Okay, okay. Stop delaying it.

Whoa, this is absolutely gross. So bitter. I have no choice however but to force it down.

Luckily for me it seems to have actually filled my stomach. They’re quite big after all. I suppose I should say thanks for the meal.

Of course I get a nice second meal as well. A Beast as 1 soul core, with every up in class being an up in amount of soul cores. So it is only 1 soul core but the essence from it should be quite nice. Of course grabbing it is a bit awkward but once done I just have to smash it as hard as I can against the ground.

Look at the essence flow from it. Opening my profile, which I’ll call it from now on I should have a nice amount of essence of abo- 4?! How 4?!

Soul Fragments: [04/1000]

Hm how is this possible? Oh the [n% I=W] attribute. This must be how much extra essence I get per core. So instead of whats normal for anyone else, I get 4 for an awakened soul core. If it’s 2 extra per that means a fallen would give me 6.

I may just cry actually. This is the first actual good news I’ve received.

I move around, jump a little and climb on the walls, even produce some more thread of varying kinds. One might wonder what I’m doing but each “point” of essence makes you just a little bit stronger, and faster. Depending on the aspect it can even help that. And yet I feel nothing, see nothing. There are absolutely no signs that it seems to have actually made me even the slightest bit stronger or faster.

This is a relatively new body for me, and 4 is a small number. However I am quite certain I should still be able to feel something, even if minuscule.

I even try dancing around to see if I feel anything at all. After just a couple of seconds, a huge tremor runs through the thread I’m standing on and knocks me flat on my face.

Ouch. That hurt.

I didn’t prove anything with my efforts, either. Just received a painful new memory.

So much for that…

Chapter Text

Composing myself after my embarrassing fall, I shift priorities to the still-vibrating thread. The other end is attached to the bottom of the web in the passageway to my left. Which means only one thing, something is caught there. My first prey. And considering nightfall is maybe an hour off, I was right in picking this spot. Maybe its a common place creatures of all kind come to.

I’m sure there’s many creatures who survive by hunting in the day and hiding at night. Which means, of course, there’s probably plenty of horrifying things who swim through the night, hunting all manner of abominations.

If I forget for a moment how horrifying it is, the ecosystem is actually quite interesting. With no real human force, this whole place is kinda like an terrarium. Except for the fact, of course, I’m in this hellish terrarium.

Makes it quite hard to appreciate it for anything at all, when you consider I can die at any time to basically anything.

I approach the cavern to my left with caution. Taking the slight trip downward, I finally catch sight of what exactly I caught.

I come face to face with the creature, it has a long, plated body. With at least 100 legs, and two long antennae. Unlike other Nightmare Creatures, it doesn’t have eyes filled with insanity, or madness. Because it doesn’t have eyes at all!

Huh, so it’s a centipede. It’s quite a bit bigger than I am, but as it keeps wriggling it’s way out it only manages do get itself further stuck into the thread.

This appraisal thing is kind of a gold mine. Doesn’t tell me much but I can deduce some things, especially when they’re stronger with more varying names. Carapace is quite the classification but looking at it’s ‘shell’ it begins to make sense.

I’ve heard before centipedes can be very tasty. Quite a few cultures used to snack on them in the waking world, and they’re supposedly high in protein. Never seen one before but it should be easy enough to eat. It shouldn’t be anywhere near as awful as that spider if I’m lucky.

Since I ate just a bit ago I’m not exactly the most hungry spider in the world right now. Despite that though I doubt my threads will last in this section when the water rises. So the centipede will be free to swim right on up to my location.

Hmm can centipedes even swim? Well I don’t really feel like finding out.

What should I do?

Right as I’m taking it easy and mulling things over, the centipede looks right at me and launches a desperate counterattack! My eyes follow the super-venomous-liquid liquid flying through the air, but I was paying so little attention, I couldn’t even move a foot out of the way. In the end I could do nothing but mentally curse my own foolishness.

Ngyaaaah?! Hey, what the—?! Ow, ow!

Venom? Is this Venom?! Man, it really hurts where that stuff hit me!

Wha—?!

A second shot?! Wait, seriously?! Gyaah! It got me again!!

Ow, hey! This isn’t funny! Retreat, retreat!

I force my wobbling legs to move, and somehow manage to get out of the centipede’s range.

Wow. That really hurt. Is that what it feels like to have acid dumped over you? It’s not melting through me, right?

I’m quite a bit worried but I obviously don’t have a mirror down here to check myself.

Damn, this is embarrassing.

Even stuck in a trap, the thing I’m fighting is still a Nightmare Creature. Of course I shouldn’t have let my guard down. A cornered animal bites back. Nothing in the world, especially a Nightmare Creature would just sit back and let itself be eaten. Especially since I’m just a sleeper. I’m only one tiny step above a human right now.

Man that hurt, but considering I’m still here I won’t die just yet. The venom mostly hit my left side and my back. Some of it must’ve managed to hit me on my eye too since part of my field of vision is now black. Of course I did manage to see earlier I have many eyes! So my vision isn’t all the worse for wear.

The biggest issue of this situation is the pain isn’t going away. It still hurts! Just as I complain to the non-living gods of this world however, that pain begins to fade.

Wha-?!

Maybe that venom dissipated as it ate through my skin? I don’t know if that makes sense but there’s no other explanation!

As the pain begins to finally fade though, all I feel is rage towards the centipede. How dare a mere snack treat me in such a way?! I must eat it, full or otherwise, venomous, or otherwise. Even if its the last thing I do!

Mind made up, I charge full speed at the still tied up Beast. As long as I don’t sit still staring off into space, this thing is nothing more than pathetic prey caught in my trap. More venom is spat at me three times, but it’s easy to dodge now that I know it’s coming. Especially because as far as I can tell, it only shoots from it’s two front legs.

Once within range and having dodged the last shot I charge in and bite down on the creature. Ha take my venom! For some reason I know I have venom, and know exactly how to inject it with my fangs. Instincts go a long way I suppose. Another point of luck, is all of it’s own panicking led to it showing me very easy-to-find gaps in it’s armor.

Ha! Suffer and die so you can fuel me as you should!

Just as I’m thinking that however, it secretes some sort of oil. For a second I think it’s just some weird slippery liquid that isn’t doing much of anything.

Ow, ow, ow! That stuff hurts a lot, you know! It’s to the point I’m forced to let go. The pain oddly enough subsides some just a second later. The pain is still there but not as burning, or as horrible. As if the clearly corrosive oil somehow lost it’s edge.

Not letting myself think about that, and refusing to run away again, I bite down on it a second time. Causing it to jerk in pain itself.

That’s right, suffer! I bite down a good three more times for good measure. My venom isn’t exactly the most deadly thing in the realm so I should spread it out, right? That sounds right to me! The beast struggles for quite a while, luckily not getting any more venom, or oil onto me before finally it comes to a still.

[You have slain an awakened beast, Carapace Centipede.]

Whew, I finally beat it. I really struggled with one of the weakest things that could exist, but still. This calls for a celebration of some kind.

[You have obtained a memory: Carapace Plating.]

Yes! I received a memory! Not exactly the most common thing in the world, and by it’s name clearly an armor piece. That Titan could have given me something much more amazing, but alas I wasn’t lucky enough for such a thing. Now though I have my very first of hopefully many, many memories.

Time to open my runes and check this baby out.

Summoning the runes I go to look at what my brand new memory is useful for. It’s only at an Awakened Beast’s level, since that's what I killed, but even a weak memory can have useful factors that might be an absolute must for my survival.

Before I look at my memories though, my eyes are subconsciously drawn to my soul fragments.

Soul Fragments: [08/1000]

Wait what?! I got Soul Fragments without even needing to dig the cores out of its corpse?! Maybe this is a perk since my aspect is of Divine rank. Being able to receive the fragments before actually digging them out and crushing them means that I can just get stronger as I kill. Saving me a lot of time.

So even if I leave bodies behind I’m not actually leaving that much of value. Of course I don’t want to waste any meals, so I won’t go leaving around bodies regardless.

Ah maybe my life here won’t be so bad after all.

Now, as for that memory I received. Armor is not quite as good as a weapon would be, or maybe even a charm. But lets see what I have going for me.

Memory: [Carapace Plating].

Memory Rank: Awakened.

Memory Tier: I

Memory Type: Armor

Memory Description: [A shell to live in, a shell to die in.]

Wow, morbid as hell! I guess it fits considering the situation. The hard outer core of it’s body didn’t exactly do it any favors, did it?

I summon the Carapace Plating.

…

Uhhhh, I summon it!

Summon?!

I wear the plating and dance!

I, the great venerable spider, command thee to appear on my body!

Hello?

Admin?

I asked for the armor.

I wish to put on the brand new armor!

What is happening?!

I’ve never summoned a memory before, because I’ve never had one to summon, of course. But I know for a fact it’s an intuitive process not requiring a lot of brain power. It was never really explained to me for that very reason. It just isn’t complicated for anyone to do the moment they have the spell.

Which means I’m either the biggest idiot in the history of the spell. Or I can’t do it for an entirely different reason.

That reason would be…

Hmm…

Is it because I’m a spider?!

No no that can’t be it. Even saints who transform into a beastly form can still utilize armor memories. It shapes around them no matter what, you know! Or is my body not the same thing as a transformation that the Saints go through?

But besides that the memory makes it sound like it’s the same as the centipede! Does that not make me perfect for it?

Or perhaps since I have basically no essence it can’t shape around me? No that can’t make sense either. Armor shapes around sleepers of all shapes and sizes. Adjusting at will. It doesn’t seem very practical that something like that would be the reason. I’m probably just in denial at this rate. Which means the assumption that this form can’t do it no matter what is the most logical reasoning possible.

Wait is this really possible?

I mean really truly?

That sounds like someones bad flaw, not what is supposed to happen because of my aspect!

Wouldn’t that also mean I can’t ever use weapons? I don’t have hands to even hold a weapon! What about charms? Can’t you at least let me use those? But I’m not sure I’ll let my hopes get up that I can use a charm if I can’t even use armor.

That being the case, it would mean I’m limited to to my body and my body only. Big problem with that being, my body is a weak sleeper body! And I might never even be able to awaken because I can’t use a gateway!

Doomed. I’m so doomed.

Armor isn’t often the most useful thing out there. Especially something on the level of an awakened. But a weapon can be super useful to me. It could help me cut down something I have no chances of cutting down. And armor could also simply help me survive one or two more hits that I otherwise would die from.

If I can’t use any memories, my life has gotten just that much harder.

I mean what am I supposed to do with memories now? It’s a complete and utter waste. I can’t exactly trade them for essence with others. I can’t even talk, in order to be able to bargain! Not that I’m the best bargainer, should I still be human, mind you.

So it’s basically gonna just sit in my soul sea, doing nothing till the end of my life.

In frustration, I start munching on the centipede. Ah, it’s so bitter! But I’m not exactly one to waste my food. A growing girl needs to eat every meal, after all. So I keep on eating through it. Ow. Now it hurts.

The bitterness might just be poison, and the pain is the corrosive oil, I guess? It looks pretty weak compared to the iron spiders so maybe that’s how it survives. Speed and nothing wanting to chase it down just to eat something bad for them.

This thing surely has a lot going for it though. Venom, poison, and secreting oil? Many ways to attack and defend, yet it still lost to me in the end.

It doesn’t seem to be too much for me to bear, which is a surprise for me because I feel like any other sleeper would die from eating this thing raw. Another perk from being a spider? Good perk since I can’t exactly cook anything with this body. This doesn’t console me for the fact I can’t use memories though!

After a few bites the bitterness and the pain even go away a small bit.

The taste might not be to my liking, but I can’t complain about that mystery I guess.

Plus this is a special occasion, the first catch in my new home. Heck its the first catch of my life in general.

Thanks to this fellow, I can be confident that my thread can protect me here from other creatures. Well those on this level at least. I’ll be a bit more confident if I catch a few different creatures of higher levels. And seeing my thread work in action was pretty nice. The centipede made it through a few layers of thread but as it went further it kept twisting itself up.

Although it seems the oil also was eating through the thread. Even snapping some of the threads in an attempt to free itself. Given enough time, it most likely could have freed itself. So I guess it’s good I managed to kill it with the time I had.

All in all, it’s been quite an informative experience.

Thanks a bunch, centipede!

I’m going to keep holding my grudge for all my new wounds though.

I don’t exactly have a way to heal myself, after all.

Chapter Text

I wake up the next day nice and refreshed. Well, no, that was obviously a lie. The wounds from my last and only battle so far persist. And a pain is chasing me no matter how I move or still. I suppose it makes sense, that venom and oil did quite a number on me.

It’s not enough to really hinder me, right now, but it does make me worry for what the future might bring to me. I mean, one enemy locked in my threads managed to do so much damage. What happens for the next, and the next after that? What happens when something stronger shows up?

So many questions that I have no answers to. I’ll just have to be more careful, but that can only bring me so far. Sigh.

The water disappearing also proved me right. Well… On two things I suppose. I mean I couldn’t say without a shadow of a doubt that this place wouldn’t be flooded too, right? Hahaha…

Ha ha…

Ha…

Yeah not very fun playing with my life, but hey. It worked out.

The other thing it proved to me was that the threads I placed in the tunnels tear apart once night comes. Meaning I have to replace those threads everyday, which can be a bit draining on my energy. I could just rely on the webbing in the dry parts of my home, but that leaves a bit much for risk as they’d be able to get much closer.

It of course also means that I have to put myself at a few minutes of risk every morning. This morning, however, went quite well for me. In the fact that I wasn’t attacked at all.

I also can’t harvest essence fragments from things I killed. When I finished eating, the core from the centipede was already dull, and empty. And smashing it gave me nothing of value. I would complain it leaves nothing for trading, but I can’t exactly trade with anyone. So besides trading, I have zero reason for it. So I have zero reason to complain.

Entering my soul sea after nightfall benefited me in zero ways as well. Other than the fact the memory was for some reason wrapped in webs. In fact I couldn’t even pull it out, not that I needed it for anything. But with memories being pointless I can’t see a reason for the soul sea even being there. The place also seriously gives me the creeps, so moving on!

Well actually there’s not much to move on to. I threw my appraisal at a few things but it gave me a whole lot more of nothing. Same info about the same things. Walls, floors, and ceilings. I even tried throwing words at it. Like ‘wet wall of the Forgotten Shore.’ Just to see if that could change the appraisal in anyway. But no, nothing.

I’ve thought more about the pain subsiding with time when being attacked yesterday. I think it might have something to do with being attacked in general. I was always taught the spell is always fair, even if in its own twisted way.

How do you make it fair to no longer be a human then?

I suppose a few ways is with the multiple eyes, the ability to climb on walls. And of course the essence stealing. Although I’m not sure if that’s to do with my aspect, per say. It could be just part of [n% I=W] for all I know. Not like it says anywhere whats allowing me to do it.

Maybe the spell is glitching and gave me something extra. I won’t bite a gift when it’s given to me.

Going back to the pain subsiding, I think I built up resistance, as the venom and acid ate through this body. Hard to say without experimenting more on it. And I’m not exactly going to go do that willy nilly. If true it’s great I can build a natural resistance to attacks, as the attacks come. Especially when I consider I can’t use armor.

But it requires me to power through the pain. And also live through the attack.

But for arguments sake, if fire hits me, will I obtain a resistance to fire? In terms of self defense, the more I can resist, the better. And it’s almost better to do it as a sleeper. If I did it one day as a transcendent being and went around taking attacks from awakened being, I doubt I could gain that much resistances.

But if I take an attack as a sleeper against awakened, that should mean I take more ‘damage’, thus I receive more resistances against it. Well it feels almost like a video game at that point. Only this time it’s more real and painful.

Then I have to ask myself, should I always tank an attack before going for the kill? As long as I can ensure it won’t kill me? Nah, I really don’t like pain at all. And with no guarantee on any of this it’d feel quite useless.

There’s also no need to put myself in unnecessary danger, for potentially no benefit. Yeah that’s much better reasoning than the pain excuse.

I did even more testing with myself during the morning just to see if the 4 extra essence gave me a boost in my strength now.

Yeah, it didn’t…

Even my threads don’t show any signs of improvement from yesterday. So it’s a bit concerning. Ah, who am I kidding, it’s very concerning! I need as many buffs as possible if I want to survive. Especially now, knowing that I can’t use memories.

I could go outside during the day, build my resistances a little. Be able to kill more creatures potentially which could help my growth.

Outside, though… Ugh. I have a safe, comfortable home now, why would I bother going out?

My main goal is to live in peace, my best bet is to stay a shut-in

But I do want to raise my essence more to see the benefit…

There are a lot of pros and cons in this situation. Especially when considering long term living. The danger of going outside, however, is a pretty major downside.

Okay. That settles it.

I’m staying inside.

As night grows closer, one of the threads of my web begin to vibrate. What a special occasion, my second catch! Perfect timing, I was just getting hungry.

I skip a little as I head toward my new prey.

… Which is kinda surreal for a spider to do, even if it’s me.

I still have the scars from my last bout, so I approach cautiously. Now, time to see what my prey is this time.

It’s another centipede. You, again! Why, dammit?! I know there are tons of other monsters here! What are the odds of catching the same kind of monster twice in a row?! Is this just every centipedes favorite place or what?!

Ha…ha…

Whoops, I got a little carried away there. Really, though what are the chances…

Splat! Nooooooooo!

While preoccupied with a one-man comedy act in my head, the centipede aims a spit attack right at me. Never in both worlds have I been so shocked! I’m such an idiot!

Revel was right, I’m never making it on my own!

Ah… Okay.

The pain really stops me in my tracks, and forces me to focus on the current situation. Who cares if I was spit on again? It’s about who lives at the end of it all.

I wrap the centipede in even more thread so it can’t fight back. Then I bite down on it from above.

It doesn’t die right away, just like the last centipede from yesterday. But wrapping it up until it looks like a bundle, and biting it should help weaken it enough.

I quickly bring the centipede bundle into my home, then go back and immediately rebuild the broken web.

Last time, I left the webbing as it was and ate my prey right on the spot. Thinking about it afterward, I definitely left myself defenseless in that situation. If any other creature came right at that moment, I would have been under attack without a complete web for defense.

Night is approaching so I could probably not rebuild the broken web to save myself the energy. But it feels like leaving it broken for even 15 minutes, before the water covers it, would be a bad idea. It’s good to be engaged in safe habits, after all.

When I return to the centipede, I see it wriggling around in an attempt at escape, despite being all wrapped up. Some of the threads are already broken from it’s corrosive oil as well.

Hmm, it would seem one bite didn’t have much effect at all. I wonder how spiders do it, maybe just web them up and wait until they struggle themselves to a slow death? Regardless I don’t have to wait around, nor do I think waiting around would be very effective when it’s about to break out already.

Chomp! I bite it again.

The first centipede, I killed by biting it many times, but that probably wasn’t necessary. All I need to do is sink my teeth into it and keep injecting poison through my fangs. It’s not like I need to reset the poison by biting again and again.

I was probably panicking a bit back then.

Just as I’m thinking about that, the struggling centipede gives one last spasm and stops moving. It’s so sudden that I’m a little startled.

You have slain an awakened beast: [Carapace Centipede.]

That’s one more down and yet another 4 fragments of essence obtained.

Hmm? Hmmm? Ah, my body feels strange!! Huh?! What’s going on?! My skins peeling off?!

Molting? Am I molting?!

Wh-whaat?! W-wait a second!!

Soul Fragments: [12/1000]

Wait, there’s no way I’d just randomly start molting for no reason, right? I must’ve reached some sort of threshold and it activated automatically. Perhaps ten or even 12 fragments was the magic number. Then my body renewed itself.

At any rate, the old skin is still stuck to me, so I peel it off. A few areas, like on my back, are pretty messed up. That was where the centipede’s venom got me. I wasn’t able to see it until now, but it looks like a pretty big wound.

The part of my vision that was busted, is even back to normal now!

I think more on the fact of molting, and it all makes sense now! Running around, climbing, even my thread has all improved! This was what I needed see the effects of those fragments growing.

I was thinking in the mind of a human and how a human body works, but I’m now a spider with a spider body. Humans grow stronger with their muscles becoming more developed and trained. Or in terms beyond a normal human, by awakening, and collecting more essence thus allowing your body to become closer to ‘perfection.’

Their bodies are reformed every step of the way by the spell, and their soul reaching new heights with the ascension process. While gaining essence provides an immediate effect without having to be full-on reformed.

But working out isn’t going to help a spider, I can’t life weights and feel my muscle grow back stronger. A spiders outer body isn’t made of skin, and muscle. It’s made of an exoskeleton. When spiders grow, they molt in order to allow their bodies to reach new sizes. So it only makes sense that I have to molt in order to grow stronger and faster.

The bonus effect of it healing me is just that, a bonus. It’s a side effect while the main effect is being able to grow more and more. Molting allows many creatures with exoskeletons to repair themselves. Even to the point they can regrow lost limbs.

It’s almost like when you level up in a game, and all your statuses recover with that level.

I’ve tried not thinking about it too much, even as a kid Revel often told me not to. But boy, this world, and the spell itself is somewhat game-like. It’s utilized in such a way it’s hard not to look at it like a progression system.

I think Revel was afraid, and even me a little bit, that if I took that view I might start acting as if I’m just playing a game. Acting as if it wasn’t real life, with real consequences. I did have a habit of comparing her gaining a new memory to gaining a reward for a quest, so it wasn’t completely unfounded. I guess it’s too late for that though, I can feel myself getting excited already.

I can’t help it if I have the soul of a gamer, all right?

In the end my plan isn’t going to change much from current. Relax, enjoy life, and stay in my home. No need to venture out, and endanger myself so long as meals keep coming to me.

Sure the prospect of gaining strength and molting a few dozen times excites me, but it doesn’t take away the fear.

Although is it so much to ask for it to not all be centipedes? A girl needs a healthy, diverse diet after all.