Unexpected Ascension Chapter 27

[Ruby Spider - Level 55]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 46]

Adrian stared at the two monsters as they stood in front of him. They must have heard the sounds of the fighting, or they realized their kin had strayed off and trailed after it. Regardless, they were now facing down the human as he pursed his lips.

What do I do? he asked himself as he tried to get a bearing of his predicament. Behind him, the tunnel broke off into a few different corridors. And he didn’t know which led into dead ends, or which forked off to more tunnels.

Unfortunately for him, he didn’t have time to think up a plan. The two jewel spiders lashed out at him as he dashed back. He had to react, purely on instinct. No deliberation whatsoever. 

Adrian sprinted away as the sapphire spider led the charge towards him. Its body began to blur, and he knew what was coming next. His [Savage Instincts] made him mode, rolling out of the way of the monster as it sped forward and ripped apart the rock where he had been standing just a moment later.

I’m faster than it, even with its Skill. But just barely. Adrian deduced that fact as he continued to run. Glancing back, he saw the sapphire spider pick itself up as the ruby spider joined its side. 

The two of them continued giving chase to Adrian as he turned a corner. His brows snapped together, noticing something strange. However, he wasn’t certain of it just yet. I’ll have to keep observing…

Adrian watched as the two jewel spiders turned the corner, giving chase after him. He didn’t slow down, but he kept his eyes fixed on them as they ran. The sapphire spider began to gain some ground on him, leaving the ruby spider behind. 

And that was when the sapphire spider threw itself forward again.

I understand now— the thought crossed Adrian’s mind as he leapt to the side. Rolling out of the way, he narrowly dodged the sapphire spider’s Skill again. That’s how I can win.

When Adrian picked himself up and continued running, he made his way straight for the ruby spider. It almost seemed like a suicidal charge. After all, he was running straight for the higher-leveled monster. But…

The ruby spider is slow. It’s much more bulky than the sapphire spider— a different evolution? I don’t know. All I know is I can take advantage of this!

Adrian reached the ruby spider as it hissed, swinging down at him. Its legs struck the earth like a hammer, causing the tunnel to shake. But Adrian slid past the attack, unleashing his own [Hammer Punch] at the back leg of the monster.

His attack didn’t shatter the ruby spider’s leg. However, it was a powerful enough blow to bend the carapace, knocking the monster off balance.

Then Adrian continued running as the ruby spider spun around, trying to chase after him. But it hobbled slowly as the sapphire spider overtook it, sprinting straight for the human. Good, just as planned…

Adrian slowed for just a moment as he reached the corner, waiting for the sapphire spider’s body to blur. It shot forward, and that was when he escaped around the corner, dodging its powerful attack.

And Adrian continued to run. A few minutes passed. The distance between him and the sapphire spider didn’t change. It was nipping right at his back. But the ruby spider was nowhere to be seen.

Because it had fallen too far behind.

When Adrian was certain it was just him and the sapphire spider, he spun around and grinned, welcoming it with a savage look.

“I have you now.”

And almost like it understood him, the sapphire spider slowed. It stared at him for a moment, before he was the one to charge at it with a [Double Jump] to propel him forward. He crashed into the monster’s face, unleashing a [Hammer Punch].

The attack was strong enough to crack open the sapphire spider’s carapace. Before it could react, Adrian followed up with [A Dozen Strikes]. However, he targeted its eyes with purpose, blinding the monster.

The sapphire spider let out a horrible shriek as it whipped its head back, tossing him off. But he landed lithely, facing down the monster without fear. It flailed around wildly, unable to see. Its attacks were wild and all over the place.

When Adrian saw the way it was swinging its scythe-like limbs, he knew that it would be difficult to get in range to finish it off. After all, one mis-step, and he would be sheared in half. But that didn’t deter him.

Especially since the sapphire spider couldn’t see him at the moment.

Adrian took his opportunity to run forward, swiping out with a [Fatal Backstab]. He dodged the swinging scythe-like limbs of the sapphire spider. Almost like he was dodging the blades of a spinning fan. 

And his attack struck true. He cleaved through the sapphire spider’s neck, killing it with that powerful strike.

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 46] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 36! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Panting, Adrian drew away from the dead sapphire spider’s body. But he didn’t have time to relax. Because the ruby spider could be coming right around the corner at any moment.

And right on cue, Adrian watched as the ruby spider arrived at the scene. It was still hobbling, its back left leg bent the wrong way. But its movement was only mildly impeded. It didn’t seem hurt at all.

Adrian gave a weak smile. “Now… how am I going to deal with you?”

The ruby spider hissed as it charged at him. Perhaps Adrian could have run— maybe even escape it. But he didn’t want to. He wanted to challenge himself.

He wanted to win this battle.

So Adrian laughed and he charged back at the monster. The ruby spider moved like a lumbering giant, its scythe-like limbs digging the ground with each step it took, before swinging out like a warhammer.

Adrian slid under the attack as he swung up with his platinum fangdagger. The attack barely dug into the monster’s underbelly. Even though that was where the ruby spider was most vulnerable, according to [Critical Precision] and [Savage Instincts].

Cursing, Adrian then flipped over to the back of the monster, unleashing [A Dozen Strikes]. This time, the attack was more effective, and he was actually able to penetrate the carapace. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to deal any real damage to the ruby spider.

The monster let out a screech as it threw itself into the ceiling. But Adrian leapt to the side, barely avoiding being crushed as he landed on the ground. 

As the ruby spider fell back to the ground, Adrian threw himself up with an upper cup empowered by a [Hammer Punch]. The impact of the attack knocked the monster into the ceiling. But it wasn’t enough to cause any real lasting damage.

And that was also a wake up call for the monster to take this fight seriously. Adrian prepared himself to unleash another strike on the ruby spider before it fell back to the ground. However, it didn’t. It clung onto the ceiling, using its long limbs to stop itself from falling.

Adrian blinked as he saw the ruby spider craning its neck down to face him. Its eyes shone red, and a crimson aura covered its body.

What is this— Adrian thought.

And the ruby spider let go of the ceiling, dropping down on Adrian. His eyes went wide, and he used a [Double Jump] to get out of the way. As he did, the monster crashed into the ground, sending a plume of smoke out into the tunnel.

Adrian watched as a crater was left on the ground where the ruby spider was standing. He blinked, seeing the earth practically melt where the monster stepped, before it turned its gaze towards him.

Now how am I supposed to get past that? Adrian wondered as he pursed his lips.

The ruby spider charged at him, and he ran. Not because he wanted to escape the fight. But because he needed to figure out how to deal with this attack. The crimson aura wrapping around the monster seemed like it would melt anything it touched. Or at the very least, burn things quite badly.

Adrian picked up a rock and hurled it back at the ruby spider. The rock began to sizzle when it got close, before striking the monster’s carapace and melting upon impact. 

I can get close to it, but if I touch it… Adrian’s thoughts focused on the pile of melted rock that was left behind as he continued running away. I have to make sure it doesn’t even graze me.

Adrian wondered for a moment if his platinum fangdagger would melt too. But considering it was made from a platinum spider, which was higher-leveled than a ruby spider, he highly doubted that would be the case.  

A Skill that works as both an offense and a defense— how am I supposed to get through that? Adrian wondered as he turned another corner.

The area around him started to look familiar. The signs of battle. The broken walls. The chunks of carapace lying on the ground. Adrian realized he was back at where he killed the other sapphire spider earlier. 

And as he stared at a broken shell lying on the ground, he got an idea.

He slowed once he was certain the ruby spider was about a minute behind him, and he produced one of the dead sapphire spiders from earlier. He immediately got to work, breaking off their scythe-like legs as he heard the rumbling approach of the ruby spider.

The ruby spider arrived a moment later, and he looked up with a grin. He held up one of the broken-off scythe-like legs of the sapphire spider.

“Catch this,” Adrian said, before hurling the scythe-like leg like a javelin straight at the ruby spider.

While he wasn’t adept at throwing, his target was massive, and his aim was good enough for that. He struck the side of the ruby spider as the attack pierced the monster’s carapace. But the monster barely slowed as it continued running forward.

“As expected—” Adrian shook his head and picked up another scythe-like leg. “That’s why I have seven more where that came from.”

The ruby spider hissed and continued charging. But Adrian didn’t let up. He threw limb after limb after limb, aiming for the monster’s head. All but the last one struck the ruby spider’s body, barely slowing it down. But the last one struck the monster’s eyes, just as Adrian intended.

“Now that you can’t see me…”

Adrian dashed forward, leaping over the ruby spider as he unleashed a [Fatal Backstab] onto the monster’s neck. It shrieked and crashed into the wall in confusion as he landed behind it. There was no [Hammer Punch] to land, because the crimson aura was still radiating off the monster.

So Adrian just used any attack he could land with his blade. He alternated between [A Dozen Strikes] and [Fatal Backstab] as the ruby spider picked itself up, thrashing all over the place. But as long as he was quick with it, he could avoid being burned alive.

And after ten long minutes of whittling down the ruby spider, he emerged victorious.

Ding!

You have killed a [Ruby Spider - Level 55] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 37! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 38! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 39! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 40! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

You have upgraded the Skill:

[Active - Fatal Backstab] -> [Active - Savage Ambush]

Ding!

You have gained the Skill [Active - Powerful Throw]!

Ding!

You have gained the Skill [Passive - Accurate Aim]!