Unexpected Ascension Chapter 26

The next day, Adrian woke up with a hammering headache. It felt like someone had struck him across the back of the head with a baseball bat. Although… he was pretty sure he could tank such a hit while barely flinching these days.

A lot had changed since he arrived here in this world. Even if he still felt weak at times, that was only because he kept going up against stronger and stronger enemies. Compared to people back on Earth, he knew he was stronger than even the strongest strongman by miles. 

Faster than the fastest sprinter. More durable than the most durable person.

Even still, Adrian’s body burned. Not from injuries, but from the sheer exhaustion of running last night. Looking up, he regained bearing of his surroundings. He was still in the second floor of the Silk Mines, surrounded by dangerous monsters that wanted to tear him apart.

Good, he thought as he forced himself to his feet. Let them come for me, I will kill them and become stronger. Then I shall return to the surface, and I will deal with Madam Chanda.

And that would be at least one problem dealt with. However, Adrian didn’t think he would become strong enough to deal with the Ragna, Vidar, and the Flower Hunters just yet…

Adrian’s thoughts were interrupted as his stomach rumbled. He closed his eyes, focusing on his [Spatial Inventory]. Unfortunately for him, he hadn’t brought much rations with him when he decided to flee down into the Silk Mines.

Mostly because of the predicament that led to him going down here.

Adrian only had the leftover rations he brought with him from back when he was already down here. And he was fairly certain the rations would only last him a few days at most— perhaps a week if he consumed them sparingly.

I’ll either have to get really strong in under a week, or I’ll have to find an alternative source of food, Adrian thought as he produced a handful of rations and downed it quickly. But even then, if I don’t find a source of water…

Adrian still had a few small bottles of water he could drink from in his [Spatial Inventory]. But unlike scavenging for food— which could be possible if he figured out how to harvest the monsters he killed— there was unlikely to be any water sources down here.

Shaking his head, Adrian left his alcove and began stalking his way down the corridor. As he did, he resolved himself. If I cannot find an alternative to food and water, then I will do what I must. And that is—

Coming to a halt, Adrian saw a shadowed figure standing up ahead. It was a massive creature, huddling over the corpse of a dead giant worm. 

[Sapphire Spider - Level 42]

Adrian paused when he saw it. The monster didn’t notice him. It was too busy scarfing down the dead giant worm, while trying to avoid the acid that was spilling out onto the floor. At a few points, the sapphire spider flinched as some of the acid splashed onto its carapace.

It’s alone.... Adrian observed as he moved forward quietly, activating [Sneak Step]. However, even though the monster was by itself, he didn’t want to make too much noise to alert any other jewel spider that was nearby.

So Adrian tried to determine the best way to end the battle quickly. With a combination of [Savage Instincts] and [Critical Precision], he realized that the sapphire spider was most vulnerable on the left side of its carapace. Probably due to having been injured from a brief scuffle with the giant worm— very likely weakened due to the acid.

As long as Adrian struck true and struck quick, the battle would be over in an instant. But there needed to be a specific order of attacks to win. 

Once Adrian reached the sapphire spider, he lashed out with a [Hammer Punch]. That was right.  A [Hammer Punch]. Not a [Fatal Backstab]. Because first, he needed to break through the armored shell protecting the sapphire spider.

And what came next had to happen quickly. Before the sapphire spider could even realize what was going on, that was when Adrian unleashed a [Fatal Backstab]. There was only a split-second between when the Skill would activate, and when it would fail. 

But fortunately, because Adrian was prepared to attack, he struck true right in time. If it had been against any other enemy, they would have reacted in time. However, since this sapphire spider was constantly flinching to the acid, while already being injured, its senses and reaction time was dulled.

And Adrian’s [Fatal Backstab] cut deep into the flesh under the sapphire spider’s carapace. It let out a blood-curdling screech as Adrian didn’t let up. Next, he unleashed [A Dozen Strikes] that continued to tear deeper into the monster.

The sapphire spider stumbled forward, struck by this onslaught of strikes. And that was when it fell face-first into the giant worm’s pooling acid. Adrian capitalized on that moment as the monster was hissing as its face was burning, and he grabbed onto his dagger with both his hands, digging deeper and deeper into the sapphire spider.

He continued striking it until—

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 42] — You have earned experience for killing an enemy!

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 34! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Status:

Adrian Zenith

Rank: D

Class: [Savage Hermit - Level 34]

Titles: [Outworlder Champion]

Skills: [Passive - Agile Body], [Active - A Dozen Strikes], [Active - Double Jump], [Active - Fatal Backstab], [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]

Essences:

Strength: 57

Agility: 111

Dexterity: 50

Magic: 41

Vitality: 51

Essence Points: 0

Taking a step back, Adrian took in a deep and shuddering breath. He hadn’t felt that level of excitement in a day. The catharsis of leveling up— it exceeded any other sensation he knew.

Adrian, of course, distributed his Essence Points the same way as he normally did. He smiled as he placed a hand on the sapphire spider. It disappeared into his [Spatial Inventory], before he faced the dead giant worm.

The corpse was mangled into many different pieces, with its acid pouring and melting the ground. Adrian wasn’t even going to try to store it away. That would be too much of a mess, and too difficult too.

However, seeing the dead giant worm and remembering the silver mite from yesterday gave Adrian hope that he would be able to find other monsters down here. Perhaps crustcrawlers. Those seemed like they could be edible.

And even if they weren’t…

If I level up for each jewel spider 10 levels above me I kill, I’ll just have to kill forty of them to reach Level 70 quickly.

Adrian grinned as he stepped forward. It sounded easy in theory. But in practice, he knew it was going to be a lot tougher than that.

***

Ding!

You have killed a [Silver Mite - Level 14] — You have earned less experience for defeating an enemy at a lower rank than you!

Ding!

You have killed a [Silver Mite - Level 21] — You have earned less experience for defeating an enemy at a lower rank than you!

…

After lurking the second floor of the Silk Mines for a few hours, Adrian ended up mostly killing only silver mites. They were predominantly present because their small size made them difficult to detect by the jewel spiders.

They really are a pest, Adrian thought as he stored away their corpses. But at least they are valuable.

It was not like the silver mites were the only monsters Adrian encountered around here. He saw plenty of jewel spiders lurking down here. Unfortunately for him, he found it difficult to ambush any of them, because…

Adrian came to a halt as he turned a corner. There, he saw three figures walking down the hallway. They moved slowly, even if Adrian knew they could pick up the pace in the snap of a finger.

[Ruby Spider - Level 55]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 46]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 43]

The very same ones I saw last night, Adrian observed.

Every time he ran into a jewel spider, it was always in a group. Even if it was not this specific group. So Adrian couldn’t have possibly taken them on. Not when they were in a group. That was why he didn’t attack them.

However, I can’t just wait for them to split up. Because they won’t. 

Adrian had stalked a few other groups of jewel spiders already, and they would stick together for hours. So he made up his mind as he trailed after this group.

I’ll need to split them apart, Adrian resolved himself. But how do I go about doing that?

Adrian kept a good distance away from the three jewel spiders as he tried to come up with a plan. And that was when he thought of something.

Activating [Sneak Step], Adrian produced some of the dead silver mites he carried, and tossed one of them at the back of the Level 43 sapphire spider. The monster paused and glanced back. It stared in confusion as all it saw behind it was a trail of silver mites, lying on the ground.

The sapphire spider broke away from its two companions, beginning to gobble up the silver mites one after another as it followed this trail. Meanwhile, Adrian continued to drop a silver mite every ten feet or so, leading the monster far away from its friends.

This continued for a few minutes, until Adrian ran out of silver mites to use as bait. 

Hopefully we’re far enough away from the other two, Adrian thought as he readied himself for the sapphire spider to turn the corner.

And right as it did, he lashed out with a [Fatal Backstab], striking it in the eyes. The monster let out a shriek as Adrian followed up with a powerful [Hammer Punch], smashing its head onto the ground.

The sapphire spider could barely react as Adrian unleashed a [A Dozen Strikes]. However, that was not enough to end the battle. After all, the sapphire spider wasn’t already injured.

So Adrian continued to stab at its head as it tried to pick itself up and fling him off its body. He refused to let go, clinging onto its neck as he struck it again and again and again. The sapphire spider tried to slam him against the wall after a minute passed, but he leapt off.

And with a [Double Jump], he came crashing back down onto it with another [Hammer Punch].

Ding!

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

Ding!

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 35! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Adrian landed right next to the corpse of the sapphire spider. Its head was entirely crushed under the weight and momentum of his attack. Enough time had passed for him to use a second [Hammer Punch], which bought him his victory.

He laughed as he stumbled forward. He took zero damage from that fight. Which was good, because if he was even struck once, he knew he would be bleeding and at the cusp of death.

Hopefully that was resolved quickly enough, Adrian thought as he made the sapphire spider’s body vanish. But right as he turned around to take his leave, he froze when he saw what was waiting down the corridor.

A trickle of sweat ran down the back of his neck. His hair stood on their end, and he took an uneasy step back. A hesitant smile spread across his face as he raised his weapon.

“Uh, hey. Didn’t see you there. You must’ve heard the commotion, huh?”

But as he stared at the two figures standing there, he heard no response. All they did was charge his way, shrieking.

[Ruby Spider - Level 55]

[Sapphire Spider - Level 46]