Unexpected Ascension Chapter 28

Status:

Adrian Zenith

Rank: D

Class: [Savage Hermit - Level 40]

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: 63

Agility: 123

Dexterity: 56

Magic: 47

Vitality: 57

Essence Points: 0

I’m Level 40 now, Adrian thought as he drew back away from the dead ruby spider. After only two days back down here, I have reached Level 40.

Adrian smiled at the thought. Even though his heart was racing, and he was sure that one small misstep would’ve killed him in his encounter with the ruby spider, he found it all exhilarating— an excitement that couldn’t be compared with anything else. 

As per usual, Adrian expended all his Essence Points into his Agility. So that was not what he focused on with regards to his level ups. Instead, he paid attention to the new Skills he had gained.

Firstly, he had upgraded his [Fatal Backstab] into [Savage Ambush]. The effects of the upgraded version of the Skill seemed to be pretty much the same as the original version. How did they differ then? Was it just a stronger version of [Fatal Backstab]? Or was there more to it?

Adrian didn’t know for certain. But he was excited to test it out later.

Then he learned the Skills [Powerful Throw] and [Accurate Aim]. These would be useful, working in tandem so that Adrian wouldn’t have to engage in close quarters combat. Especially against enemies that would crush him in one blow.

However, Adrian knew he couldn’t overly-rely on these new Skills. After all, there was only so much he could do with them, since he had very few projectiles on his person. 

Certainly, he was able to make use of the material he could harvest from the monsters he killed down here to his advantage. But it was a limited resource.

Shaking his head, Adrian stored the dead ruby spider and the dead sapphire spider into his [Spatial Inventory]. While he didn’t know exactly how much storage there was left in his Skill, he knew it wasn’t close to being full just yet.

Adrian made his way back to the alcove where he sheltered for the previous night. It didn’t take long, but he narrowly avoided a few large groups of jewel spiders on the way back there. Then he closed his eyes and slept for the night.

***

The next day, when Adrian woke up, he readied himself before he set off to hunt down more jewel spiders. Just like he did with the dead sapphire spider against the ruby spider yesterday, he took the corpses he gathered yesterday and turned their scythe-like limbs into makeshift javelins.

It took over an hour of work, but he knew it would be worth it. Especially since he could summon them whenever he wanted using [Spatial Inventory]. That was what was convenient about his Title of [Outworld Champion]. Not only had it given him a rather significant boost in his overall Essences, he was also given this incredibly convenient Skill that allowed him to carry practically as much ‘equipment’ as he wanted to use for battle.

Perhaps that was the reason why Adrian was able to survive by himself down here in the Silk Mines, despite being heavily under-leveled against the monsters down here. 

Specifically, the jewel spiders.

Perhaps if there were mostly only crystal rats and giant worms lurking these floors of the Dungeon, most people around Adrian’s level wouldn’t struggle to survive. But as he made his way through the dungeon, he knew that these jewel spiders were too much for most people to handle.

He came to a halt right before a group of corpses, caught hanging from a vast canvas of a spiderweb that covered the entrance to a tunnel. Nearly a dozen dead dwarves were left rotting there. Perhaps to be consumed by the jewel spiders for later.

Were they all in the same group before they were killed? Maybe. Or maybe their corpses were just brought here one after another, and they were killed separately. If so, then that meant this would be the gathering ground for a feast of jewel spiders.

Knowing this, Adrian realized that this would be a converging point for jewel spiders. So he didn’t need to go around hunting them down. All he needed to do was wait nearby, and follow any jewel spider that broke off on its own.

And that was what Adrian did. 

He hid behind some large chunks of iron ore and stalagmites that were protruding from the ground, biding his time and waiting for the jewel spiders to pass through. As he expected, after half an hour passed, a group of five jewel spiders appeared. 

[Ruby Spider - Level 53]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 45]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 42]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 48]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 47]

They headed towards the area where the corpses were dangling from the spiderweb, and Adrian could hear them feasting in the distance. But even after seeing them, he didn’t act. Instead, he waited for the first of the jewel spiders to leave the area after feasting.

And as he suspected, since the jewel spiders wouldn’t be eating at the same pace, they would be departing the area at different times. So Adrian opted to follow the first one that left, which just so happened to be the Level 45 sapphire spider.

It wobbled as it passed Adrian by without even realizing it. The monster moved sluggishly, evidently having enjoyed its meal too much. It began wandering down the corridor as Adrian trailed after it for over half an hour.

At a few points, the sapphire spider stopped to just rest, or went on to chase a few silver mites away. Otherwise, it didn’t seem to be doing much. Eventually, when Adrian was certain that there were no other jewel spiders nearby, he took this opportunity to strike.

Let’s see what [Savage Ambush] can do, Adrian thought as he dashed forward with a [Stealth Step] and struck out with his platinum fangdagger. 

Before Adrian could even reach the sapphire spider, he felt a surge of power wash over him unlike anything he had ever felt before. He blinked, seeing a shroud of shadows seemingly overcome his body, before creeping up to his blade.

What is this? he wondered as he continued to approach the sapphire spider from behind. It was nothing he had expected. It seemed more like the effects of [Stealth Step] than anything. And that was when he suddenly sped up, reaching the sapphire spider in an instant.

Adrian’s own eyes grew wide as he moved almost mechanically— driven purely by the instinct of the Skill. He struck the sapphire spide once, practically running past the monster before it could react. Then he instinctively spun around and repeated the same attack, doing this again and again and again.

Six strikes. Each one landed all across the sapphire spider’s back. He came from a different direction each time.

And when he was finished, he drew back to see the sapphire spider collapsing to the ground, half its legs severed, and its head removed from its body.

Ding!

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

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 41! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

“That is…” Adrian trailed off as he slowed to a stop, the veil of shadows covering his body vanishing. “What the fuck was that?”

Even he was flabbergasted by just how powerful his upgraded version of [Fatal Backstab] was now. It wasn’t a single attack. It was multiple attacks, unleashed all at once with the same intensity as a single [Fatal Backstab].

It was so powerful, he was able to kill a sapphire spider before it could even fight back. The only downside was how much energy it had expended. Adrian found himself panting from only just that brief second of attack.

He wiped the sweat off his brows, then he grinned. “Just the Skill I needed…”

Even with its downsides, Adrian was excited to use it even more to defeat his enemies.

***

Adrian tracked down another jewel spider after returning to the scene of the webs and the dwarf corpses. The only jewel spider that remained there was the Level 53 ruby spider. For a brief moment, Adrian considered simply leaving to find another sapphire spider nearby. However, he resolved himself and decided it would be a much more exciting prospect to test out his new Skills against a high-leveled enemy.

Especially one that was on the slower side. 

So Adrian trailed after the ruby spider for a few minutes, before he finally took his opportunity to strike. This time, he didn’t attack with a [Savage Ambush], even if he could do just that. He wanted to test out his other two Skills so he produced a makeshift javelin from his [Spatial Inventory] and took aim.

Let’s see how useful [Accurate Aim] is… Adrian thought as from a distance, he aimed for the ruby spider’s eyes. 

The ruby spider continued walking forward, unbeknownst to it that it was about to be attacked. And that was when Adrian hurled the javelin forward.

[Powerful Throw]! 

With all his strength, he released the javelin, and it shot forward. It launched like a crossbow bolt, moving faster than the clunky and bulky ruby spider could react. The monster recoiled in pain, shrieking as its left eyes were gouged out from the attack.

But Adrian refused to let up. He produced another makeshift javelin, taking aim again. And this time, he threw it without any Skill but [Accurate Aim], since [Powerful Throw] was still on cooldown.

The ruby spider managed to raise an arm and deflect the follow-up javelin. But Adrian knew that would happen, so he hurled another three javelins out immediately. The monster wasn’t able to block all of them.

It reeled as it was pierced on its side. It took a step back as it tried to escape the volley of projectiles. But it didn’t realize Adrian had already run out of javelins to throw.

The ruby spider raised its head, scanning the area for Adrian. But he was already leaping towards it with a [Double Jump]. The monster didn’t catch a glimpse of Adrian descending upon it in time.

And that was when he unleashed all his offensive Skills at once.

[Savage Ambush], [A Dozen Strikes], and [Hammer Punch].

Altogether, the three Skills finished off the high-leveled ruby spider in an instant.

Ding!

You have killed a [Ruby Spider - Level 53] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 42! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 43! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

With the ruby spider lying dead on the floor, Adrian drew back as he grinned. No damage taken, and a ruby spider killed. His newest Skills were impressive. They outperformed even his expectations of it.

As long as I can continue isolating these jewel spiders, I can keep hunting them down before their allies can come to their aid, Adrian thought as he made the ruby spider’s corpse disappear.

He glanced around, and while he saw no jewel spiders making their approach, he knew some would come here soon. So he quickly left the area.

At this rate, I’ll be able to reach Level 60 and reach C-rank in no time. Adrian closed his eyes, before grinning. When that happened, he was certain he would be able to deal with Madam Chanda and her goons on his own.