Unexpected Ascension Chapter 29

For the next three days, Adrian continued to hunt down both ruby spiders and sapphire spiders alike, leveling up quickly as he ambushed them on their own. However, despite having killed more than he did when he initially arrived in the Silk Mines once again— while doing it more efficiently too— he found that his rate of growth was slowing.

No longer was he able to level up with each kill of a sapphire spider, since he was now around equal to their level. And killing a ruby spider no longer provided multiple level ups. Even still, it wasn’t like he didn’t gain a significant number of levels during this period anyway. After all, since he leveled up less per kill, he just killed more.

Adrian slowed as he approached his alcove, thinking he was done for the day. But then he paused when he caught a glimpse of a gathering of monsters standing there. Three sapphire spiders. They didn’t seem to be there for him, but he grinned when he saw them.

Even killing five or six sapphire spiders on his own was not a big problem any longer. Because he was stronger now, able to face these threats with less trouble. So he charged at the sapphire spiders before they even realized he was there. 

Immediately, Adrian killed the highest-leveled of the group with a [Savage Ambush]. The other two reacted by recoiling, not realizing what was going on. When they regained their bearings, they swiped for the human, but he deftly dodged their attacks.

He closed the distance and landed a [Hammer Punch] on the underbelly of the lowest-leveled sapphire spider. He broke open its hard shell, before using a [A Dozen Strikes] to finish it off. 

That left the third sapphire spider on its own. It charged at him, its body blurring as it moved at an immense speed. But Adrian flipped over the attack, anticipating it. And all he needed to do next was wait for his Skills to return, before he finished it off.

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 47] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 43] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 44] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Stepping back, Adrian stared at the dead trio of sapphire spiders, before he let himself focus on all the notifications that he had amassed over the last few days. And he had gotten a lot from everything he had done since he got his new Skills.

Whether it was a ruby spider or a sapphire spider. They had all fallen in his path. Because he was stronger now.

And the prospect of growing even stronger simply excited him.

Ding!

You have killed a [Ruby Spider - Level 54] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 45] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 41] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

You have killed a [Ruby Spider - Level 52] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

…

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 44! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 45! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 46! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 47! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 48! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Status:

Adrian Zenith

Rank: D

Class: [Savage Hermit - Level 48]

Titles: [Outworlder Champion]

Skills: [Passive - Agile Body], [Active - A Dozen Strikes], [Active - Double Jump], [Active - Savage Ambush], [Active - Stealth Step], [Passive - Spatial Inventory], [Active - Basic Identification], [Passive - Basic Weapon Mastery], [Passive - Critical Precision], [Passive - Inferior Sneak], [Passive - Poison Resistance], [Passive - Venom Resistance], [Passive - Savage Instincts], [Active - Hammer Punch], [Passive - Hardened Skin], [Passive - Lesser Acid Resistance], [Active - Powerful Throw], [Passive - Accurate Aim]

Essences:

Strength: 71

Agility: 139

Dexterity: 64

Magic: 55

Vitality: 65

Essence Points: 0

Now, Adrian was Level 48— after the latest kills. He was closing in on Level 50, which would then mean he would be 10 levels away from reaching C-rank. And the fact of the matter was, he hadn’t even been here for more than a week.

I doubt I’ll reach C-rank by the end of the week, unless I start hunting more dangerous monsters… Adrian thought as he made his way back to his alcove. Perhaps I should start searching for gold spiders or platinum spiders— it’ll be dangerous, but the reward would be worth it.

As far as Adrian knew, a gold spider was above Level 60. And while he didn’t know what level a platinum spider was, he assumed it would be around Level 70, since they were supposed to be higher-leveled than gold spiders. 

However, even though Adrian had defeated both sapphire spiders and ruby spiders when he was 10 to 20 levels lower than them, he was more concerned about facing gold and platinum spiders right now, despite the similar level differential. And that was because they were a higher rank than Adrian.

They had undergone evolutions which were always a major power boost. Because of that, it might’ve made the level differential even more significant than it should’ve been. So for now, Adrian decided to stick to doing what worked. 

He drifted off to sleep in his alcove, waiting for the next day to come.

***

When Adrian woke up, it wasn’t the next day. Or at the very least, he didn’t feel well-rested enough for it to have been the next day. He was still absolutely exhausted. Groaning, he sat up and rubbed his head, wondering what it was that woke him up.

And he perked up when he heard it.

It was coming from a distance away. A very faint sound. But Adrian recognized the sound of it immediately. It was the sound of fighting.

Adrian rose to his feet as he produced his platinum fangdagger in one hand, and a makeshift javelin in the other. He had been in the Silk Mines for so long, it was practically his home now. And he was capable of distinguishing the sounds of a fight between monsters, and the sounds of a fight between monsters and people.

What Adrian was certain was that this was the sound of a fight between monsters and people.

That was why he went off to investigate what this could have been, instead of going back to sleep. After all, if it was the sounds of monsters fighting, it was probably going to be more silver mites being slaughtered by the jewel spiders.

Adrian snuck his way through the tunnels of the second floor of the Silk Mines until the sounds of fighting grew louder. And then he slowed down, making sure he was out of view of whatever this fighting was. He came to a halt and peeked around the corner, when he saw the corpse of a sapphire spider be hurled past him.

The dead monster crashed into the side of the wall, covered in needles as Adrian blinked.

That’s… His eyes went wide as he looked towards the gathering of monsters that was just down the corridor.

[Ruby Spider - Level 57]

[Ruby Spider - Level 54]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 45]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 46]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 43]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 45]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 41]

There were a lot of jewel spiders, and just as many dead ones lying on the ground. They all surrounded a person who was cutting them down with ease. Someone who was high-leveled enough to kill these jewel spiders like they were silver mites.

Someone who Adrian recognized.

[Dwarf - Level 65]

That’s Madam Chanda’s hitmen, Adrian realized as he stared at the dwarf. The very same one that had pursued Adrian down into the Silk Mines. And while he wasn’t accompanied by his posse of other dwarves, he alone was more than enough to capture the human. What is he doing down here? I thought he gave up chasing after me…

When Adrian had last seen that dwarf, he was Level 64 and facing down a gold spider. But it seemed he must have come out victorious and leveled up from that encounter, since he was now Level 65. And for whatever reason, now he returned to find the human.

Shit— Adrian cursed internally, backing up as the hitman killed a ruby spider with ease. I need to get out of here!

Adrian moved. He didn’t even spend a moment wondering why the hitman took so long to return down here. All he knew was that he needed to get out of here right now. So he ran, using [Stealth Step] to ensure his departure went by unnoticed.

And Adrian left the sounds of fighting behind.

***

Adrian ran for as long as he couldn’t. He didn’t know where he could go. Could he go back up to the surface? No— that was a terrible idea. Madam Chanda would surely have even more henchmen waiting for the human up there.

Do I wait in my alcove? Adrian wondered, before shaking his head. I will be found and killed like a sitting duck…

Then what was there to do?

Further down, Adrian thought as his gaze focused on his surroundings. The area around him was familiar, previously explored and marked by him. I need to get further down.

And to do that, Adrian was going to have to explore areas around the second floor which he hadn’t been to before. After all, he had yet to find the tunnel leading down to the third floor. And if that was his plan…

But should it be my plan? It was something Adrian had to seriously consider. If there were gold spiders down on the third floor, it was going to be even more dangerous for Adrian.

But at the very least, the hitman that was pursuing him wouldn’t be able to easily cull the monsters there if there were truly gold spiders down there. They would be able to serve as a useful distraction. So resolving himself, Adrian knew what needed to be done. 

He began searching around the network of various intersecting tunnels for the way down further into the Dungeon. It took him a few hours. And he avoided all unnecessary fighting he could. After all, he didn’t want to draw attention to himself from the hitman. 

Fortunately for Adrian, he was used to navigating around the second floor of the Silk Mines, so eventually, he arrived at a tunnel that he knew led further down. However, he didn’t immediately descend to the third floor. Because there was a challenge that waited for him down there that hadn’t been an obstacle so far.

And it was that the third floor of the Silk Mines was bathed in darkness.

Adrian, even from where he stood, could barely see any glowstones lighting up the tunnels below. All he saw were shadows, and the vague outline of figures moving down below. 

Pursing his lips, Adrian took a step back. How am I supposed to navigate the third floor of the Silk Mines if I cannot even see? 

It was, of course, not entirely disadvantageous. After all, Adrian would be able to hide in the darkness better. Still, he wondered just exactly how he was going to find his way around or avoid monsters down there.

But he took in a deep breath and marched forward. It was just another challenge for him. So he welcomed it with open arms.

And he made his way further down into the Dungeon.