Chapter 91: Horde

The rock spiders rushed at Kyle as a legion, their numbers overwhelming as Kyle quickly swung his arctech pickaxe at the nearest one, smashing through its legs in an instant. They were many, but they were easy enough to break as long as Kyle did not get swarmed.

The tip of his pickaxe smashed through the weak rock surface, with the sound of glass shattered. Kyle did not have time to figure out why there was glass as he continued to swing non-stop.

[System Message]

Killed [Rock Spider], +500 EXP

[System Message]

Killed [Rock Spider], +499 EXP

[System Message]

Killed [Rock Spider], +498 EXP

Feldon yelped as he sprinted for a rocky outcrop near the walls of the cavern, using it as an elevated viewpoint. The sea of spiders was nearly about to engulf Kyle from all directions.

Kyle also noticed where Feldon was. Good idea – moving to the centre would have me swarmed in an instant. He began to back away to the walls of the cavern, carving his way through with a pickaxe in hand and a broken rock spider’s leg in another, dual wielding wildly to stem the incoming tide.

Each kill gave him a system message, but he ignored it and focused on the task at hand. A jabbing pain arced through his body as a rock spider leg stabbed his thighs. Necklace of Healing!

The wounds and hits on Kyle’s body began to build up tremendously, the small healing of the Necklace unable to keep up.

Feldon began to use his arctech handgun to fire into the spiders, but most of his arcia energy had yet to recover from the use of the mortar back in the workshop area, limiting his shots. The moment he fired at the first spider, who was still locked onto Kyle, the projectile tore through the weak armour but did not kill it. The spider immediately turned to face Feldon, lunging at him. “AHHHH!”

Feldon was not as strong as Kyle, using his armoured arms to fend off the hits of the spider that pounced on him. With a strong knee to the base of the spider’s body, he barely managed to dent it while the spider’s leg stabbed right at his face, forcing him to roll out of the way to dodge.

His eyes darted around, trying to find the weak spot of the spider, but it was completely encased in normal rock. If he were stronger, it would be a cinch to simply rip the legs off like what Kyle was doing. Instead, Feldon used the handle of the arctech handgun and smacked the joints of the legs once before blocking another leg strike with it, the force pinning him to the ground.

With another targeted blow to the same joint, the leg of the spider gave way, revealing the interior where there was a glass-like internal structure with a pulsating red glass sphere inside. Feldon instinctively aimed the handgun right into the hole, firing a single shot that shattered the core and killed the spider immediately.

Feldon heaved a large sigh of relief but still noticed that all the remaining spiders continued to ignore him while charging blindly at Kyle, who was slowly becoming more injured.

[System Message]

Killed [Rock Spider], +443 EXP

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Level Up!

Level 29 ---> Level 30

[Stats Increase]

All Stats Increase

Bonus Free Points Granted

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Race Announcement

[Race Upgrade (Level 30)]

Race Evolution can now be selected

Please wait

Like hell I am going to wait! Kyle was definitely not going to trigger the race evolution right now, as he suffered yet another hit from the rock spiders. Despite their weak armour, the tips of their legs were as sharp as a dagger, stabbing deep into his flesh.

The adrenaline thrummed in his veins, the blood thumping in his ears as he dodged another three stabs and jabs, jumping on top of a spider while fending off the legs. He hopped from spider to spider, riding the wave as he continuously swapped out the rock spider leg in his hand, the tip worn out after a certain number of stabs.

Kyle’s instincts suddenly screamed at him, prompting him to duck low as a blue energy beam soared past where his head was, fired by the large rock spider who was still blocking the passageway and charging up for yet another shot.

The rock spiders on the ground began to clamber on each other, reaching up to Kyle and aiming for his feet. Kyle continuously leapt around, never staying still to let the spiders surround him. As he jumped up high into the air, he noticed that the spiders seemed to be avoiding the circumference formed by the seven obelisks.

Weird. Why aren’t they crossing through the centre of the cavern? Kyle began to make his way over while still dodging blue energy beams that were coming in.

As he crossed the invisible threshold of the seven obelisks, a refreshing wave of energy enveloped him like a calm, soothing song.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Effect AppliedUpdated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

[Rest Area]

Only lasts for a certain duration Do not overstay your welcome

Duration Remaining: Ten Minutes

The horde of spiders suddenly did not lock onto to Kyle, but instead turned to attack Feldon, who had still been lying low, trying to avoid attention. “Shit!” Kyle rushed right out of the rest area, fighting through the wave to reach Feldon.

Penchant for Violence!

The burst of energy brought him near to his original strength, sprinting as he used his pickaxe to smash the rock spiders in his way, covering the distance with twelve long leaps before landing right next to Feldon,

This is My Turf! The skill instantly shoved the rock spiders who were dogpiling on Feldon aside, allowing Kyle to quickly hoist him and run back to the rest area with the swarm hot on his heels.

They entered the rest area again, with the rock spiders suddenly pausing and no longer trying to attack them. Instead, they spread out around the barrier, moving slowly as they kept an eye on the two of them inside the Rest Area.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Effect Applied

[Rest Area] [Wave One Completed] [Rock Pulverizer (Intermediate)] [Rest Area] [Unauthorized Attack]

[Status Effects]

[Debilitating Poison]- Unknown poison that numbs the body. : All combat stats reduced by 10% per stack. Stack 5/10.

[Agent Body]- Highly corrosive chemical reagent that attacks the flesh. : Continuous Poison Damage.

[STATS]

Race Human Class Crime Lord Sub-Class Arcia Mystic (Unique) STR 137(+44)(+0)(+0) DEX 221(+55)(+3)(+0) INT 131(+60)(+3)(+0) VIT 101(+4)(+5)(+0) CHA 21(+10)(+1)(+0) Free Points 5 [EQUIPMENT]

[Necklace of Healing (Basic)]

+3 INT, +3 VIT, +1 CHA. Active Skill: Heal (Basic) – Restore a tiny amount of health. Cooldown: Ten seconds.

[Magus Ring of Theorin (Intermediate)]

+5 MAX MP, +25% Increased MP Recovery Rate.

[Projectile Defence Vambrace (Basic)]

+3 DEX, +2 VIT. Active Skill: Point Defence – Fires energy bolts to block up to twenty projectiles. MP Cost Per Activation: 3 MP. Duration: One minute or when twenty projectiles have been blocked. Cooldown: Five minutes.

[SKILLS] [Intimidation Aura (Intermediate)]: Control those who oppose you with fear.

+60% Intimidation Success Chance. Duration: Ten minutes. Cooldown: Twelve Hours.

[Penchant for Violence (Intermediate)]: A good crime lord must be fluent in the language of the underworld

All combat stats temporarily increased by 60% for a short duration. Duration: One minute. Cooldown: Seven minutes.

[This is My Turf (Intermediate)]: No one gets close to you without your word.

Creates a selective domain, where enemies are unable to approach. Duration: One minute. Cooldown: Two Hours.

[Designate Follower (Intermediate)]: Can’t be a crime lord without underlings

Marks any sapient being as a follower, enabling telepathic communication. Stat increase for each follower within five hundred meters. Limit of two followers now.

[Negation Field (Basic)]: Disable all engravings in an area around you

Disable all engravings in a five-meter radius. Upgradable. Duration: Ten minutes. Cooldown: Three days.

[TITLES] [Former Crime Lord]

A bigshot in your previous life, so much for that, huh?

+10 INT, +10 CHA

[Martial Arts Training]

The best things between you and death are your fists

+10 STR, +10 DEX

[Murderer]

Everyone has to start somewhere

+2 STR, +10% Increased Damage to Humans

[Usurper (Basic)]

So, climbing the ranks huh?

+5 STR, +3 DEX, + 10% damage to those of higher authority

[Potion Inspector (Intermediate)]

It seems that you are somewhat of a scientist yourself.

+10 INT, Increased description of potions examined.

[Potion Crafter (Intermediate)]

This title was supposed to be handed on successful potions, but the failures are pretty hard to watch.

+10 INT, Increased description of potions examined, +10% chance to craft an intermediate potion when using basic materials. 5% increased chance of discovering basic potion recipes per attempt, stacking. Resets on discovery.

[Healer (Basic)]

This doesn’t seem like the right way to use healing...

+5 INT, +10% healing effectiveness

[Martial Arts Instructor (Basic)]

With great power comes great muscular bodies.

+5 STR, +3 DEX, +10% teaching effectiveness

[Arcia Engraver (Intermediate)]

Carving away like a madman is a good way to move up in the world

+10 INT, +6 DEX, +20% chance at improving quality of final Arctech Equipment.

[Torturer]

Pain is the best language to get someone talking.

+5 INT, +2 STR, +2 DEX, + 10% torture effectiveness.

[Tracker (Basic)]

Helps when those keys are always misplaced.

+5 DEX, +25% Increased Vision and Hearing Range.

[Goblin Observer (Intermediate)]

Entering the den of a goblin tribe alone is quite a feat

+10 DEX, +50% success at learning goblin language.

[Goblin Killer (Intermediate)]

Goblins tremble at the sound of your name

+20 STR, +10 DEX, +4 VIT, +20% damage to goblin-type enemies.

[Arctech Gunsmith (Intermediate)]

Death in motion. Lots of Motion

+10 INT, +6 DEX, +20% chance to craft an intermediate gun when assembling.