The massacre among the spiders is more than halfway done, with spider corpses scattered everywhere.
After resting for a few minutes, I feel a bit better and decide to go back to scavenging. Those corpses littered around are a decent food source for now, even if they taste awful and are poisonous.
I observe a bit longer and notice a few injured spiders. Without hesitation, I dart in to steal their prey. The other spiders seem furious at my theft, but I'm too quick for them to catch up.
I drag the injured spider to a corner and use my usual method. It dies quickly and ends up in my stomach.
The taste is still awful!
I grumble but move on to the next target.
Since the battle is nearing its end, the number of baby spiders has dwindled. I wait carefully but only manage to snag two more spiders. During the process, I rely heavily on my silk and fangs.
Moving with six legs really feels different.
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Nai wa~~
So many!
I read the notifications while finishing off the last spider. When I'm done, another notification pops up.
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Ueeeeww
I can only make weird noises to express my excitement since I can't exactly shout out loud.
Great job!
If I keep this up, I'll dominate this area in no time.
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Oh?
A gift?
What's this? Did someone send it to me? Or is it a newbie gift from the system?
Just as I'm about to open it, the giant "Mother" spider lets out a roar. It seems she's calling the surviving baby spiders to gather.
The others start moving, but I stay put.
I'm debating whether to follow.
I don't like taking orders, and a "Mother" who just watches her kids kill each other doesn't exactly inspire loyalty. So, while no one's paying attention, I slip away.
Even as a baby spider, I'm confident I can survive!
After leaving the spider nest, I keep wandering. I want to open the gift right away, but I realize I'm in a different world. There are probably tons of dangerous creatures here, so I decide to find a safe spot first.
I pass by a small cave that seems suitable for a temporary hideout, but the "owner" returns. It's a long snake covered in tough, translucent scales.
Nai wa!
Oooooowwww
I quickly hide behind a nearby rock and hold my breath.
The snake checks its nest, finds nothing unusual, and slithers inside. Only then do I dare move, scurrying away as fast as I can.
I'm not sure how strong I am, so I don't dare mess with it—especially since I'm terrified of snakes!
Fighting those spiders earlier was different; we were the same species, so I could mimic their movements and knew their strengths and weaknesses. That's why I was confident. But now… forget it!
Plus, I don't even like killing unless I'm starving.
For now, I'll rank that snake as the second most dangerous thing, with "Mother" taking first place. I quickly leave the area to find a new place to settle, but after searching all day, nothing seems suitable.
Either the terrain is too rough, or other creatures have already claimed the spots.
They always come in groups of three or more, so I can't risk fighting them.
My stomach's starting to growl again.
I just ate a bunch of spiders—how am I hungry already?
Do normal spiders eat this much? Their tiny bodies can handle that much food?
No way!
First things first, I need to find a place to settle.
I keep wandering, hoping to find a good spot and some food.
Wait, are those lizards up ahead?
They look a bit different, but I think I'm right.
They're much smaller than me, and there are only three, but I don't know if they have any special skills, so attacking might be risky.
I need a skill to scout them out.
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Oh, why didn't you say so earlier?
How many Skill Points do I have?
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Why such an odd number? It's annoying!
Oh, I remember the notification about Skill Points being added when I leveled up. I guess I get 30 points per level, and I started with 100.
For now, I'll work with what I have, but 130 points probably only gets me two skills at most, so I need to choose carefully.
System, can you find any skills that let me check the info of other creatures?
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Oh, two options…
Which one should I pick?
Well, I only have enough for [Appraisal], so no need to overthink.
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Yes.
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Nice.
Let's test it out.
I quickly activate [Appraisal] on the lizards.
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Huh? That's it?
What a rip-off!
At least it tells me their level, and they're higher than me. I'm only Lv2, so fighting three Lv3 at once might be tough…
I think I should retreat.
Yeah, retreat it is.
I turn to leave, but after a few steps, reluctance creeps in, and I turn back.
They're sleeping right now, so I could sneak attack, right? Plus, I'm getting hungrier, and if I pass this up, I might not find food for a while.
Let me think of a plan…
I could quietly trap one with my silk and kill it with venom before it alerts the others. But will my venom be strong enough to kill it fast enough?
Hmm…
This is a gamble!
Am I scared?
Nope.
I've played tons of gambling games before, and Lady Luck's always on my side.
I'm confident.
Alright.
Let's do this.
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Let's… do this~!!
I can do it…
I…
Every time I try to move forward, my legs tremble…
I'm not scared!!
Okay, I'm a little scared… but just a bit!
…
Fine, I'm more scared than I thought.
But I have to do this…
All for my hungry stomach.
Calm down, me. Just think of them as the lizards from my old life. They don't look that different. I'm just a spider now…
I psych myself up and creep closer. One lizard is lying farther from the other two, so I'll start with that one.
I carefully approach, moving along the left wall.
Every step is deliberate.
I'm holding my breath.
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The sudden notification startles me, and I slip, falling to the ground. The lizard twitches slightly.
Damn system!!
Thankfully, it doesn't wake up.
Did I just get [Stealth]? Perfect timing!!
I activate the skill and continue toward the lizard.
When I'm close enough, I aim for its mouth and shoot my silk. The thread instantly clamps its mouth shut, but it wakes up.
I quickly fire more silk to restrain its body. Without hesitating, I leap down, bite its neck, and inject venom. It thrashes violently, breaking some of the silk around its legs.
I reinforce the silk while continuing to bite its neck.
After a few seconds, it stops moving, dead. Before I can celebrate, the other two lizards wake up. While they're still confused, I grab the dead lizard with my silk and run.
But the other two give chase. The lizard isn't too heavy, so I can drag it, but they're gaining on me.
Damn it!
I'm getting tired, and fighting two lizards now is impossible. But I don't want to abandon the lizard I worked so hard to get.
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Another new skill? What's this?
I don't know its effect, but my exhausted body suddenly feels reinvigorated, and I run faster.
I don't know what that skill did, but it saved me. The problem is, the lizards aren't giving up.
After running a bit longer, I come across a cliff. I'm starting to tire again, so without thinking, I leap off, dragging the dead lizard with me.
I glance back and see the two lizards glaring at me, but they don't dare jump.
Hahaha.
You guys are too green.
I smirk, then realize something's wrong… Why am I falling for so long?
I look down, and the ground is right in my face. At this rate, I'll be smashed to bits.
Oh no! I can't think of a way out.
I hit the ground hard, my body taking severe damage. I'm practically shattered, but somehow, I'm still alive.
Eat! I need to eat now!!
I check the lizard—it's mangled but still edible.
I scan the area to confirm no other creatures are around, then start eating the lizard. My injuries make it hard to eat.
It takes a while to finish it.
I went through so much for this.
Ugh, it tastes awful. No poison, but it's like swallowing dozens of bitter pills. Eating it raw also risks infection.
I hope a spider's immune system is strong enough.
After eating, I feel a bit of strength return.
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Nai wa!
My battered body starts healing back to normal. It's like I've been rejuvenated, and all my fatigue vanishes. I'm back to my original state.
So, leveling up resets my condition, huh?
That's amazing, but I can't get cocky.
Alright… where am I now?
I look around but find no clues. Just old, moss-covered stone walls…
Oh, there are two paths.
For now, I'll stay here.
I use my silk to block both paths and weave multiple layers around myself to make a small "house." Only then do I feel safe enough to lie down.
Since I was born, it's been nothing but fighting and running.
I'm exhausted!!
And with that, I fall asleep without realizing it.
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