by Eden Redd
“I don’t know if we are ready for this,” Val whispered.
Will stopped and opened his inventory. Pulling out three torches, he handed one to Morgan and one to Val, keeping the last one for himself.
“If you get caught in any webs, burn them off. If there is a lot of spiders, we press our backs to each other so they don’t get the drop on us,” Will ordered.
Val raised an eyebrow, “Have you…done this before?”
Will turned toward the entrance. “I’m not sure, but it feels familiar,” Will said as his mind drifted to experiences in other worlds, he wasn’t sure he had.
The player led the way, Val and Morgan close behind. Entering the giant entrance, the air grew stagnant and colder with each step. Torchlight lit up patches of webs along the walls, but the light didn’t penetrate the shadows above them. The rocky corridor stabbed deeper into the mountain. Morgan’s black eyes moved to every shadow while Val wrinkled her nose, unable to smell anything beyond death and decay. The tunnel grew thinner as they walked, concern filling Will’s brow as he wondered if it was designed that way to trap pray. Sticky webbing covered everything along the tunnel and soon the trio marched single file.
“If we don’t survive, it was nice to meet you both,” Morgan whispered as he drew his sword.
“I will always survive,” Val said with a wicked hiss as claws extended from her fingertips, her energy returning.
“We all make it out together,” Will ordered.
The tunnel grew uncomfortably thin as web wisps clung to pieces of leather armor. Thirty seconds later, the entrance ballooned out into a gigantic cavern. Will stepped carefully into the vast chamber, eyes drinking it all in. Webs covered giant pillars as stone steps lead up to a half-pyramid shape in the middle of the cavern. On the top of the flat stone top, a strange altar stood with something on it, covered in white webbing. The air was heavy and stale. Piles of bones lay scattered along the chamber floor and Will stared at the covered altar, purpose coloring his spirit.
“If we run, the motion is going to alert anything that is here,” Will whispered.
“We take our time, they may come out anyway,” Morgan added.
Val surveyed the vast chamber, “I have an idea. I can run in one direction; Morgan can run in another and Will can go for the altar. It might cause a big enough distraction so Will can grab the Idol.”
“We have no idea where any or all of the spiders may come from. We would be split apart and picked off,” Morgan said.
Will looked at his torch. “Not if we keep them away with fire,” Will said as he sheathed his sword and opened his inventory.
Val and Morgan watched as Will pulled out several more torches and handed them to them. Val’s claws drew back into her hands as she clutched a torch in each hand. Morgan sheathed his sword, also clutching a torch in each hand.
Will looked around with a sword in his right hand and a torch in his left. “Burn anything you can. If we can cause enough fire damage and smoke, the spiders may not be too eager to come out.”
Val looked around, her lip wrinkling. “The place is nothing but webs, bones, and stone. There is nothing to burn.”
Will grinned as he put his torch away and a block of wood appeared in his hand. “I have over a hundred blocks of wood. I will run for the Idol while dropping blocks. You both follow me, light the blocks and throw them all over the chamber. Keep some to make a flaming path. My guess is, the spiders are going to come from the walls so as long as we are on the ground and running straight through the middle, the flames and smoke might keep them back.”
“Daring,” Morgan said with a razor grin.
“I would say something, but I don’t want to put a damper on your enthusiasm,” Val said with a fanged smile.
“You both think you can handle it,” Will asked, already knowing the answer.
Val and Morgan both nodded.
“Let’s not keep them waiting,” Morgan smirked before turning and charging forward.
Body low, he dropped wooden blocks with his left hand, sword up with his right. The blocks hit the webbed floor with small thuds as he rushed along. Val and Morgan sprang into action, pressing torches to blocks. The fire caught nearly instantly, flames and smoke rising up before boots kicked them to the left and right. The flames grew with each passing second as flaming blocks tumbled or slid into places. Heat rose and webs melted away.
Will rushed ahead, hand flicking blocks to the floor like a factory machine. Gaze on the covered altar, he kept his pace while light glowed behind him. Glancing back, the chamber glowed with burning light as the fires grew. The plan was working too well, smoke filling the vast ceiling. Something screeched, followed by another.
Will pumped his legs while tossing blocks when things crawled from hidden places. Webs pulled aside to reveal large holes, spiders the size of dogs rushing out into the cavernous chamber. Black eyes shone in the firelight as they turned their attention from the man running through to the patches of flames. Skittering mixed with crackling flames as confusion took root. Natural instincts fought against each other, some wanting the new food and others wanting to rush away from the burning flames.
Val kicked blocks hard as Morgan tossed flaming blocks at appearing holes. They moved slowly, following Will and setting some blocks to flame to create a blazing path. The fire licked at Val and she cringed, not wanting to set herself aflame. Morgan grunted and wiped his forearm to his brow, the heat drying him out.
Will reached the stairs and climbed them, eyes on the altar. Something big fell from the ceiling and landed behind the altar. A dozen eyes blinked as a spider the size of a truck climbed up with ease. It looked down with many eyes on the approaching morsel.
Will’s heart nearly stopped before he shouted in defiance. A 2-D screen appeared as he charged, placing the wood blocks in their slot and pulling out a torch. With a wipe of his hand, the inventory screen vanished as he reached the top of the stairs and jumped. The giant spider lurched forward, two sharp legs stabbing at the young man. For a brief instant man and spider stared into each other’s soul before Will shouted and drove the flaming torch into an incoming leg.
Fire burned the creature, but it couldn’t stop the momentum. The appendage slammed into Will and he went spiraling to the stone floor.
You have taken 1 Damage! You have 9 Hearts remaining.
Rolling back onto his feet, he didn’t slow down as he stepped aside, another spider leg stabbing down and cracking stone. Will sliced hard across the leg before spinning away. Torch up, the giant spider hesitated before it screeched, flames licking at its leg. A green bar appeared over the spider’s head as Will slashed with sword and torch.
Val turned her gaze to the top of the stone platform, Will single-handedly fighting the giant monster. “We have to help him!” Val shouted as she charged.
Morgan turned his head to Val’s shout and raced after her, spiders hesitating against the patches of flames along the massive chamber. The ceiling and walls writhed with arachnids and smoke. Some of the spiders retreated back into their holes while others tried to push the flaming wood blocks away.
Will slashed with torch and sword, keeping the massive spider at bay. Fear bled away to uncompromising fury as he advanced on the giant creature. The spider hissed before its legs came down, ready to impale the warm morsel. Will dodged, keeping his body moving until a leg struck his shoulder and stabbed deep.
You have taken 4 Damage! You have 5 Hearts remaining!
Will grunted, the pain very real against his senses as he took the torch and pressed it to the leg, the spider pulling it back with a screech before trying to stab again. Will grunted as he parried the incoming leg, the strength from the blow causing his boots to slid back a few inches. The spider bore down on him again, legs aiming. Will attempted to parry when the force of the legs caused his copper sword to be knocked from his hand and fall clattering to the floor.
Time slowed down as Will backed up a foot, the spider adjusting its bod
y to attack again. Logic dictated if this drew out any longer, the player would be spider food. Heaving his arm back, he threw the flaming torch for the spider’s eyes. Legs twisted in mid-strike, moving to parry the flaming torch. Will drew his hammer and bent his knees. With all the power he could muster, he launched into the air, copper hammer up. The spider knocked away the flaming torch and turned its attention to Will darting toward it. Legs moved to stop the young man, but it was far too late.
Will growled like a demon as he brought the hammer down hard on a patch of giant spider eyes. Black eyes burst from the blow sending a frenzied shudder along the monster. Will grinned as the health bar for the monster went from green to yellow. The creature screeched again, half blind.
Will landed and with a swing, brought the hammer hard across a leg. The strike caused the spider to lose its balance and made it re-adjust from the blow. Will heaved his hammer for another strike when a spider leg swiped sideways, hitting him across the midsection. Will flew to the side, crashing into the floor, but still holding his hammer. Turning onto his back, the spider reared up, several legs aiming for Will’s chest.
A shadow launched into the air as the legs came down, claws slicing two legs and foul ichor for blood spurting. The spider stumbled back as Val landed and launched again, claws gleaming in the fire light of the burning cavernous chamber.
“Go!” Val shouted as she kept moving, slicing at the panicking spider.
Will struggled to stand when Morgan was at his side, helping him up.
“Get the Idol while we keep it busy,” Morgan said before turning and rushing to the flailing spider.
Will was frozen for a moment, watching as Val and Morgan sliced at the demonic spider, flames consuming the entire chamber. Shaking his head, he turned and saw that the altar was only fifteen feet away. Sprinting, he reached it, fingers digging into webs and pulling them away with reckless abandonment. A patch of webbing was pulled and a serpentine face stared forward.
Will heard a cry behind him, but he didn’t hesitate as he touched the head of the Idol.
The light and fighting died instantly. Will pulled his hand back and looked around, eyes widening in disbelief. The web covered chamber was clean, torches lining the walls and pillars. Runes covered stones as mystical energies swam through the air, spiders and fires no more. The chamber looked like it was recently built, not a speck of dust or decay to be found.
Darkness condensed by the now shining stone altar. Will stepped back, glancing from the Idol to the portal of darkness next to it. A scaled leg stepped out, followed by a body. A snake-head head appeared, fur surrounding its neck like a lion’s mane. A small tail was last to follow the creature before the dark portal closed behind it. The being stood, scales running along its slender body and long limbs. The neck flexed as the mane ruffled. Slitted eyes looked down to Will as the being stood 9 feet tall. A forked tongue slithered out a few times, eyes unblinking.
“Greetings, Will Asher. I am Yir, Serpent God of the Hunt,” the being said with a dark hiss.
Nine
Will stared, hammer down at his side. The serpent being was still as a statue, eyes piercing the player’s very soul. Energies danced along the walls as a sense of calm flooded the chamber. Will continued to eye the being before he came to his senses, parts of the puzzle fitting into place.
“You’re one of the shadows from my dreams,” Will said simply.
The being gave a single nod. “There are many watching, but my temptations spoke to you. I am pleased you came to me.”
Will glanced around, “Where am I?”
“You are safe for now in the past. No one will interrupt us for the short time we have together.”
“My…friends,” Will said, the word unusual to his psyche.
“Time passes differently here. No need to concern yourself for now. We must speak of the future.”
Will let his shoulders relax, “I’m ready.”
“Good,” Yir hissed. “You have found my Idol and for that, you shall be rewarded. But like all things, there is a price. You must accept my gifts and my teachings, take my Idol and build a temple to house it so those who seek worship may find me.”
“Why?” the word echoing through the massive chamber, a concern sliding over Will’s mind.
Yir kept his serpent gaze as he continued, “There is more than you know concerning the light and dark. A celestial war has begun and Jova has become one of many battlegrounds. I cannot tell you all, but another can, if you stay to the path. For now, you must know to keep my Idol safe and allow worship.
“You stand on the cusp of something grand. You will have the power to reshape destiny when the time comes. I, like my celestial brothers and sisters, want all beings across the cosmos to prosper, if they are strong enough.”
“I want a better life for me and those who deserve it,” Will said, unable to keep his heart and thoughts in check, as if his inner pieces were pulled to the surface.
“We know,” Yir hissed. “Accept me into your soul and you shall have that and more.”
Will wanted an internal dialogue on why should he accept such a bargain, but from the deepest parts of his spirit, he couldn’t. The concern he felt before vanished as if it didn’t matter. Fear of the unknown tried to beg at the corners of his mind, but they quickly died, unable to convince him in a decision he knew he had already made. A faint memory of a dying world touched his mind and a fury growled like a savage beast along his heart. He never wanted to be part of something like that again. A new light bloomed, knowing that he could do better than what he knew before.
“I accept,” Will stated with confidence.
Yir gave a slight nod. “I grant you knowledge, skills, and power.”
Will’s eyes widened before they were consumed by light. Numbers and text filled his unblinking gaze as did his stat screen. Numbers pooled before him until they shaped into the number 15.
“Spend them as you wish, but to use the path I bestow, you must have strength and agility,” Yir hissed in Will’s mind.
Will looked to his stats.
William Asher
Hearts: 10
Armor: 4
Primary Weapon: Copper Hammer
Secondary Weapon: Copper Sword
Strength: 6 (Novice)
Intelligence: 7 (Novice)
Agility: 6 (Novice)
Will: 5 (Novice)
Mana: 5 (Novice)
The words echoing in his mind, he mentally placed 6 points in Strength and 6 points in Agility. He placed the final 3 points in Intelligence. Power surged along his body as he felt stronger than he was before.
William Asher
Hearts: 10
Armor: 4
Primary Weapon: Copper Hammer
Secondary Weapon: Copper Sword
Strength: 12 (Apprentice)
Intelligence: 10 (Novice)
Agility: 12 (Apprentice)
Will: 5 (Novice)
Mana: 5 (Novice)
Path: Beast
Will eyed the information, seeing that his Strength and Agility reached a new tier. Intelligence grew, but judging from the numbers, he was one point away from achieving the next tier. Scrolling down, he saw the Beast Path.
Eyes returning to normal, Will looked to Yir.
“You have reached the requirement to follow the Beast Path. For every tier you reach, a gate will open, allowing you to call on the power of a beast to aid you.”
“I can summon creatures?”
Yir’s eyes glowed with supernatural light. “No, you will become them.”
Will looked on, energy sinking into his form, changing his very nature to become more powerful. He would be lying if it didn’t tantalize him, but he knew he was hungry for it.
“Your next reward, knowledge,” Yir said as the air vibrated with power.
Alerts began scrolling across his vision as knowledge soaked into his mind.
You have learned, Basic Gem Crafting! You may tap the mystical energies o
f gems!
You have learned, Basic Slot Crafting! You may add gem slots to weapons, armor, and tools!
You have learned, Craft Temple Core Stones! When you build a temple or church, you may craft and add a Temple Core Stone to it. It will guide followers to a place of worship and solace.
You have learned, Basic Village Core Stones! When you create a place to live, gather, or storage, add the proper Core Stone to ensure followers will interact with the structure’s purpose.
Will couldn’t hide the small smirk as the new skills offered many more possibilities. The Crafting Temple and Village Core Stones intrigued him, figuring they were needed to organize the populace of villages. Will wondered if there were more recipes to create greater structures with added benefits.
Yir stepped closer, Will’s form reflecting in wide serpent eyes. “There will be much to learn, but you have started on a grand path. My last gift to you are treasures to aid you as you make your way in this world. Take them with my blessing.”
Will looked down as a chest appeared before him. The lid opened and light glowed with mystical radiance. Gems crowded the top and Will found himself kneeling and driving his hands into them. Bringing his inventory up, he began placing the gemstones in available slots.
You have gained Quartz x5, Opal x5, Ruby x5, Sapphire x5, Diamond x5, Black Diamond x5, Emerald x5, Soul Stone x3, and Onyx x5!
Closing his inventory, the empty chest melted into the stone floor.
Yir floated a foot off the ground, hands out as darkness writhed along his scaled body. The vast chamber trembled, dust falling in ghostly shards from the ceiling.
“Find the other Idol and many of your questions will be answered,” Yir hissed as the chamber rumbled.
Will backed up as a large stone fell by him and shattered into smaller pieces. The place was beginning to come down, the player feeling his time with Yir was coming to an end.
Yir’s body melted into shadows, but his voice touched Will’s Mind.
“Savor the hunt. Find your tribes. Seek out the Idols,” Yir’s words hung heavy in the air before the last wisp of the god faded away.
