Unexpected Ascension Chapter 17

Ever since Adrian arrived in this world, he had been thrust into dangerous predicaments one after another. From being hunted down by powerful elves, to constantly being preyed on by terrifying monsters. There hadn’t been more than a few days where he didn’t feel his adrenaline pumping— where he hadn’t found his heart hammering as he danced with death.

And yet, he sought out the thrill of the battle again and again. He rationalized it by telling himself that it was necessary. To a certain extent, it was true. Because he needed to become stronger. Because he was still being hunted down by the elves. 

But also, he hadn’t even spent a second’s thought thinking about his life back on Earth. There had been no dreams— no pained thoughts— about wanting to go back. It felt wrong. Adrian knew he should have desired to return.

He knew that he didn’t belong in this world. So his main priority beyond surviving should have been to find a way back to Earth. But a small part of him… a small part of him…

It almost felt like he didn’t belong to Earth.

Like he belonged to this world.

It was hard to explain. All Adrian knew was that when he found himself faced with an insurmountable challenge, he couldn’t help but accept it with a wide smile and open arms. So as he saw the sapphire spider waiting for him halfway down the tunnel, he knew he had to act.

But Adrian knew he couldn’t just charge in and attack the sapphire spider. He would get himself killed that way. He needed to trap it somehow— or find a weakness he could exploit.

However, he also had to act fast. Otherwise, the sapphire spider would descend down further down into the Silk Mines, and perhaps be joined by its kin. That would have been problematic for Adrian.

So he acted quickly, grabbing a large piece of rock as he sprinted towards the tunnel leading into the second floor. The sapphire spider perked up when it saw him. It dropped the crystal rat it was carrying and eyed Adrian with its eight crystalline eyes.

And he hurled the rock at it as he screamed, “Come and get me, you bastard!”

Instantly, the sapphire spider hissed and leapt up towards him. It moved faster than he expected. He barely rolled out of the way in time as the monster’s scythe-like limbs tore apart the ground.

Regaining his bearings, Adrian immediately took off sprinting. The sapphire spider gave chase, leaping once again his way. This time, he avoided its attack with a [Double Jump], using his first jump to reach a corner, and the second to quickly turn the corner.

But even as he created a large gap between himself and the sapphire spider, it was quickly closed, with the monster crashing down the corner, stumbling its way towards him.

He glanced back as he saw the sapphire spider preparing to leap at him once again. Adrian knew for a fact that he should have been faster than most monsters at Level 40. He had poured all of his Essence Points into Agility, and his Title offered him a further boost in all his Essences too.

So far, Adrian had seen no monster or person focus as much in a single Essence as he did. And judging by how seemingly physically overpowering the sapphire spider was, he doubted that it was purely a speed build. 

So how was it keeping up with him? It must be some sort of Skill, Adrian deduced. I need to slow it down or it’ll reach me and tear me apart.

Adrian produced his paralyzing fang as he turned another corner, and he immediately receded into the shadows with [Stealth Step]. He waited for a second for the sapphire spider to turn the corner after him, and he immediately lashed out.

Even before the monster could register his presence, he struck it with a [Fatal Backstab], followed by [Quadruple Stab]. The sapphire spider’s defenses were far inferior to that of a lower-leveled crystal rat. Adrian drew blood immediately, and with the four instantaneous strikes that came after, he was certain the paralyzing toxin was injected into the monster’s bloodstream.

But as Adrian disengaged, ducking under a scything slash from the sapphire spider, before running off again, he realized—

The paralyzing toxin had no visible effect.

Adrian cursed as the sapphire spider moved just as fast as ever, tearing up the tunnel behind him. He narrowly evaded the oncoming attacks, before he propelled himself forward with another [Double Jump].

And as his legs burned, sprinting down the hallway, the realization dawned on him. He looked back and knew that there was no way for him to escape. He could delay the inevitable. But by drawing the attention of the sapphire spider, he now had no choice except to fight and defeat it. After all, as far as he could tell, its defense was weaker than its offense. Even if it was risky.

Otherwise, he was going to die.

But the prospect of it didn’t terrify him. Instead, it almost seemed to heighten his senses. His blood was pumping through his veins, the excitement was palpable. He wanted to laugh.

And Adrian saw the monster charging at him once again. There was only so long he could run from it before it eventually caught up, because of its powerful Skill. So he had to think quickly on his feet. 

He produced his remaining onyx snake fang and threw it, aiming straight at one of the many eyes of the sapphire spider as it drew closer. The attack was enough to discombobulate the monster for a moment. But all he needed was to buy time. 

Adrian knew that the deadly venom in the fang wasn’t going to be enough to kill the sapphire spider. It was only meant to be a distraction, as well as to further impede the sapphire spider’s vision. 

And as the monster regained its bearings, Adrian spun around and raised a hand. He reached for his [Spatial Inventory], waiting for the sapphire spider to swing down at him. But he didn’t just pull out a single object. 

Instead, Adrian pulled out two things in succession. And they weren’t small objects. They were rather large. They were the corpses of the giant worms. He placed them like a set of walls between himself and the sapphire spider. 

The first corpse was to block the swinging and sharp limbs of the monster. The second corpse was to protect Adrian from the splash of acid that was to come next.

He braced himself, before hearing the splattering sound of the sapphire spider tearing into the first giant worm’s corpse. It hissed and reeled back as the acid within the dead monster splashed over it. Adrian hid under the protection of the second corpse for a moment longer, before he felt his [Stealth Step] return.

And he activated the Skill as he touched the corpse of the second giant worm, letting it vanish back into his [Spatial Inventory]. The sapphire spider stood there over the first dead giant worm, having ripped into it, and drawing the acid from its innards. The acid burned at it— not melting at the sapphire jutting out of its back, but melting through its carapace.

It hissed in pain and swept its gaze over the tunnel. Even though its gaze was bearing down where Adrian was standing, it didn’t see him. Especially when one of its eyes was stabbed by the onyx snake fang, while its body was sizzling, covered in acid. 

Now it was Adrian’s chance to escape— to flee from the monster while it was distracted. But he couldn’t bring himself to turn tails and run. This was the perfect opportunity for him to seize. A chance to kill the monster before it could kill him.

Was this a foolish decision? Perhaps. However, the payoff— the reward of his triumph— far outweighed the benefits of barely escaping with his life. Especially if the sapphire spider eventually found him again.

And more than that, this was what Adrian wanted. The thought crossed his mind as he made his way around the sapphire spider, until [Critical Precision] told him where the monster was most vulnerable. It was a challenge he wanted to overcome— something that was unlike the dull monotony of his everyday life back on Earth.

A life or death duel between him and a monster.

So Adrian lashed out. Another [Fatal Backstab], followed by a [Quadruple Stab]. And this time, he was able to tear into the monster far easier than before. It actually screeched in pain as it staggered back away from him. He deftly stepped back as its remaining seven eyes darted his way, before it swung out.

Adrian once again produced the second giant worm’s corpse, using it as a shield to protect him from the sapphire spider this time around. And this time, as the monster tore open the corpse with its slicing attack, the acid sprayed out into its eyes, blinding it.

But Adrian wasn’t able to shield himself from the raining acid. He winced, burning from all over his body as a small splash of acid washed over his shoulder. It burned at his flesh, and he could feel it eat away at his skin. Still, he bit through the pain as he leapt up at the sapphire spider’s neck.

This was his only opportunity to strike. It was now or never. It was kill or be killed, and he was going to kill. While it was blinded and confused, he clung onto its back, stabbing at its neck as it thrashed about. The sapphire spider stumbled around in sheer confusion as to what was going on, while he dug deep into its neck. 

It tried to leap into the air— slam Adrian against the walls. But the jutting sapphire from the monster’s back cushioned the impact partially. And Adrian clung on. Even as his bones broke. Even as his skin was cut open. He clenched his jaw, refusing to falter, and he stabbed and stabbed and stabbed again. Then he unleashed a [Quadruple Stab], before stabbing once more.

The acid, the venom, the paralyzing toxin, and the piercing cuts of the platinum fangdagger all accumulated as Adrian continued to cut at the sapphire spider’s neck. Even though his entire body was vibrating in pain, he refused to back down. 

He kept stabbing until the monster’s movements slowed. Until it collapsed to the ground and writhed. 

Until it stopped moving.

And even then, Adrian continued stabbing as he let out a crazed scream, a maddened gaze worn across his face. Before he finally heard the loud ringing sound, indicating his victory.

Only then did he let go of the sapphire spider, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion and pain. 

And Adrian felt a surge of catharsis that was incomparable to anything he ever felt back on Earth as he read the oncoming blue boxes.

Ding!

You have killed a [Sapphire Spider - Level 40] — You have earned additional experience for killing an enemy at a higher rank than you!

Ding!

Your Class [Rogue] has reached Level 26! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Rogue] has reached Level 27! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Rogue] has reached Level 28! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Rogue] has reached Level 29! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

Your Class [Rogue] has reached Level 30! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

Ding!

For reaching Level 30, you can now evolve your Class!

Status:

Adrian Zenith

Rank: E

Class: [Stinger Hermit - Level 30]

Titles: [Outworlder Champion]

Skills: [Passive - Agile Body], [Active - Quadruple Stab], [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 - Lesser Poison Resistance], [Passive - Lesser Venom Resistance], [Passive - Savage Instincts]

Essences:

Strength: 43

Agility: 88

Dexterity: 43

Magic: 37

Vitality: 42

Essence Points: 0