Random Portals

Steven wanted to try out the spear next, but Nev wouldn’t stop begging him to try his spider King form. He had been putting it off as the spider Queen’s true form terrified him and he was unsure what would happen if he was terrified of himself.

Nev was basically bouncing with anticipation to see his new form. She told him how her mother used to tell her stories of the spider King when she was just a hatchling and she had never expected to see it for herself, so he relented. The thought of Nev eating her own mother came to mind, but he didn’t mention that.

Though he still hesitated before he activated the shard. Was it normal to fear your own shard ability?

When Steven activated the shard, he had expected to change into a spider, but instead the spider body formed around him, encapsulating him inside. Once the process was completed, he lost all sense of self. Then he was the spider. It all happen with in a moment. If he focused, he thought he could feel his actual body deep inside him somewhere. Although that could just be wishful thinking, it was such a strange feeling. It took Steven a long while before he could even get a sense of his new body, much less walk in this new form.

The spider its self was black with a semi shiny carapace. It was just a bit smaller than Nev’s form, but she said when he evolved the shard, he should be bigger than her. That brought up an entirely new discussion of evolving shards. But both Silvia and Nevateb said there was no point in concerning himself with that yet.

Another strange part about being in this spider form was he could apparently communicate telepathically and had been without realizing it, but almost nothing surprised him at this point and he just went with it.

The most difficult part to Steven was adjusting to having multiple eyes. Unfortunately, Steven’s spider form was one of a true spider and not a Spider-kin. Which was why he apparently lost all equipment slots. As for why he lost his shards, Silvia had no idea. Her best guess was because of the absurd boost to his stats. The Wisp explained how right now it didn’t make him all that powerful, but as he leveled up, the ability would drastically grow in power. Tripling all stats and then some was extremely powerful. He did get to keep his talents and his inventory ability. Although most things in inventory were useless in spider form.

He went to open his stat page to see what his stats were now that they were boosted so much, but he quickly found the page wouldn’t open. Now that he was paying attention, he realized he had a notification blinking in the corner, but that also wouldn’t open. Luckily, he still had access to his mana and health bars, which were over three times larger than his human form, however it didn’t give him the actual numbers.

Steven didn’t get to stay in the spider form long before he had to change back to his human form. He had done this several times now. Once his mana refilled, he turned back into his spider form. He needed to get some practice in with his new shard ability. Nev was more than happy to help him adjust. Although the way she was looking at him now was a bit concerning. It looked as though there was hunger in her eyes, but it must have just been his imagination because when he looked back at her, she was just smiling.Steven and the Spider Queen played a game of tag to help him get a feel for his new body. Although he kept having to change back to his human form every minute or risk running out of mana completely. He also lost every game they played, but he was getting a good feel for his new shard ability.

The most surprising thing about this form was how nimble the body was for being so large. He knew this body was heavy, but he could crawl up the wall and onto the dungeon celling without issue. He was hesitant about doing it till Nevateb covered the pit traps with her webbing while he was letting his mana regenerate. Her webbing was as solid as the floor its self so the traps would no longer be an issue. After a bit, his spider Queen instructor told him it was time he learned how to use webs. She tried to explain how it was basically an extension of their body and they could feel vibrations through webs even from far way as long as you were touching at least one web that was connected to it, and it could also be used as a form of communication. However, Steven was lost by this and Nev told him he just needed practice.

Using his web was the strangest sensation he had ever had. To his horror, the web did in fact come from his spider butt.

The closest sensation Steven had ever had to this was the time he had eaten some spicy tacos while drunk and had to rush to the toilet. Although this wasn’t nearly as painful and it just kept coming out. It was almost a pleasant sensation, but Steven quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind and willed it to never surface. When he asked Nev if it was supposed to get so hot before the webs came out. She smirked and told him she wasn’t sure since her webs didn’t come from her butt like his did.

She did eventually tell him that yes, it was probably normal. Steven quickly realized the Queen was much more relaxed around his spider form than his human form. Steven had switched between forms several times at this point and was exhausted. Nev wanted him to keep practicing, but he told her was done for now and that he still needed to try out his spear.

This brought her mood down, but when he mentioned that when he gained more levels, he would be able to stay in the spider form longer. Her mood lifted, and she wanted to head to the next floor immediately.

Steven pulled up the spear’s description before equipping it.

Odling’s Chaos Imbued Lightning Spear.

Rarity- Chaotic

~ Effect]- Lightning damage stuns target, time stunned is based on targets endurance.

~ 17% of base lightning damage jumps to two random enemy targets also causing stun.

~Cost]- Must be charged with Odling mana to access lightning damage.

~ Requirement]- 11 Strength 11 Dexterity 11 Spirit

~Additional Requirements}- Must be born with last name Odling. Weapon must be Soul Bound to wield.

It was a bit irritating. It didn’t tell him how much mana would be drained when he used the lightning, or how to even activate the lightning. He would just have to figure it out the old fashion way.

Steven was realizing how mana intensive his build was becoming. He was getting some cool and useful stuff, but he was limited by how much mana he had. He practiced with the spear for a bit. It felt awkward in his hands, but not so much as the daggers did when he first started using them. After thrusting it around a bit, He made a target with his Ring of webs to get some throwing practice in.

It turned out the spear its self decided when it wanted to pull mana from Steven and when to use its lightning ability. However, each attack in itself had some lightning damage. He assumed that’s what would stun his opponents. Though he didn’t have anyone to try it on. Nev offered up some of her drones as testing dummies. The weird part was soon as she suggested it. Several of the drones rushed to kneel in front of him, offering themselves. Steven almost changed his mind when he saw the disappointment written across their faces, but quickly thought better of it. After that ordeal, Steven went back to making targets. Silvia just floated by and critiqued him from time to time.

Steven’s aim was much better than he had expected, most likely due to his attributes being higher now, but he still needed a lot of practice.

With the ability to return the spear to his hand, he couldn’t dismiss the idea of throwing a literal lightning spear besides he needed range and the bow he had just sucked, or rather, he just sucked at using it.

Eventuality Steven sat down to rest and talk with Silvia and Nev. At one point he asked why the ring and amulet was made to fit humans, but the Wisp and Queen both told him that’s just how things worked.

After eating, talking and taking a nap, he was ready to take on the next floor. Now that he had a maxed level spider Queen and some new equipment he was as ready as he would ever be, the only thing that would make it better would be having Sirus there to help.

“Damit! What is happing? First the half Naga and now he has the spider Queen herself doing his bidding! He even took my Wisp! I wish I could see what they’re doing in that damn hidden passage!”

Sorin was fuming. The floating eye hid its smirk as he knew this Dungeon lord was getting desperate and would indeed pay his over priced fee.

“Lord Sorin,” even though the beholder spoke telepathically, it was in deep echoing boom, “are you certain you wish to hire my services?”

“Of course I do! I called you here, didn’t I!”

The beholder nodded. “Once the price is agreed upon, I will place the assassin’s mark on the human.”

Blank was irritated. He hadn’t expected to become stuck on this planet for so long. It took a ridiculous amount of mana to travel between worlds, though that was no longer the issue. It was the cool down time on his portal; he hadn’t been aware that mana barren worlds would affect the cooldown time.

Not for the first time, he wondered why his God was so interested in this world. He understood that the humans here had more equipment slots than most, and these earth humans also had unawakened talents. Some even had multiple talents.

Even so, this world was void of magic. He didn’t understand how it was supposed to be useful. Unless there was a way to bring mana to this world. But he was just another one of his Gods many minions recruiting on worlds.

When Blank first arrived, he had been so very hopeful. The first human he had encountered had a full set of equipment slots and three hidden talents, which was unheard of. But he quickly realized how foolish the humans were. Especially when that first human ran through his portal before he could even finish a sentence.

Not only that, but this world was full of lies and deceits. When he saw the fight taking place on the scrying device, he thought he understood why his God wanted this world. However, it turned out to be a lie. After a few weeks in this world, Blank started figuring out this world’s lies. The Scrying device was actually something called a tv, and it was filled with mostly false hoods, though it had a few truths on it if you knew where to look. Blank had stayed in front of the scrying device constantly while Kat would go out and get food and look for recruits. The owner of the house only freaked out for a moment before he had Kat go in the form of Steven and deal with it.

One day while watching the local news Blank seen one of those experimental Naga’s appear. At first he thought little of it, as the world he was staying on had lots of them. But he quickly realized the Naga didn’t belong when the locals started freaking out. The Naga was quite skilled at knocking around this world’s defenses. Although Blank knew the Naga would run out of mana, as the humans wouldn’t stop until he was captured. Suddenly the news just stopped reporting about the half Naga and began talking about some nonsense. That’s when Blank decided to get involved. He had to know how this Naga got on this world.

Eve had been in the shop with Goskia when the warning bells went off. They were working on a new version of her ghost fire when her entire life twisted upside down. Everything happened so quickly.

As soon as the warning bells went off. Goskia had jumped into action. He began running around his shop, touching everything. Eve watched as everything he touched vanished. Before Eve had a chance to ask what was happening, the old shop keep was leading her to the center of the shop. He placed his hand on the tree and the bark fell away. There were two strange metal rods leading down the tunnel as far as she could see. Before she could ask what was happening, Naga began charging into the shop.

“Master, we have brought everyone we could find nearby. We will go now to get more.”

Goskia nodded as the younger Naga took off.

The Naga all started asking questions. “Silence,” Goskia said. “the humans have made their move and will kill or capture everyone in this village.” Goskia let that sink in for a few seconds before continuing, “we must flee. Now form a line.”

Eve looked on wide eyed at everyone, most of which were staring at her with just as much confusion. She couldn’t seem to find the words to ask anything. But It turned out she didn’t need to. Goskia walked back towards her and placed his hand above the metal rods, then a cart large enough to hold around ten Naga just appeared from thin air. “Get on,” Goskia said as he led others to the cart. “It will take you to the Spider-kin territory. The humans won’t dare enter the spider Queen’s lands. We will regroup there.” Goskia said with such confidence that everyone just did as he asked. After all, everyone knew Goskia. He was the only Elder to ever retire.

The Fourth floor opened up in a tunnel just like the last. “Does every floor have the same entrance?”

Silvia burst from his inventory. “The floors won’t change till the fifth floor.”

“I thought you wanted to stay hidden in my inventory?

“I don’t think that really matters anymore. He surely seen me talking with the spider queen. If not, then he will see me, eventually. Any way, the floors won’t change till the fifth floor, which is where the real challenge will begin,” Silvia said, “Although most don’t have an absurd inventory power that breaks the laws of the entire magic system. Or a max level spider Queen as a servant, and they definitely don’t have every available equipment slot. Even with all that, your greatest advantage by far is the fountain of knowledge in the form of a Wisp.”

“You absolutely right Silvia, if it wasn’t for you I would already be dead.”

“But Master… What about me?”

“I wouldn’t stand a chance in this dungeon without you Nev, don’t worry, I can never forget the gorgeous spider Queen that plans on eating me.”

Steven just rolled his eyes as Nev seemed to perk up at the praise.

The floor turned out to be a mixture of zombies, skeletons and ghouls, although the skeleton and zombies were on the opposite sides of the floor from one another, he wasn't sure how the wisp knew the things she did he was just happy she had that knowledge.

Steven threw his spear at the first cluster of skeletons he saw, turning three of them into ash.

+65

+67

+61

Steven stood there in amazement at how awesome his spear was! Though as it was purely random when it activated like that, he couldn’t rely on it. Silvia told him that the dwarfs could likely fix the issue. Although Steven wasn’t so sure it did have chaotic in the name and he imagined being random was just part of the function.

Nev began clearing out the remaining skeletons by webbing them up and having her drones take them to Steven to place in inventory.

Steven, on the other hand, just began messing around with his new equipment, trying to get a feel for them. His spear was the thing he wanted to practice with the most, as it was his only good source of damage.

He killed the webbed skeletons till he got bored with it. And just began placing them in his inventory again. He killed around twenty and was still over two thousand essence away from leveling.

He messed around with his amulet for a good bit, trying to get used to the carapace. After that, he spent most of his time practicing his spider form. At one point, Silvia mentioned he should kill the webbed skeletons while in his spider King form. Which turned out to be a truly genius idea. He could basically just step on them and kill them. Steven lined them up as if he was laying them on a train track and then began just stomping them and watching the essence roll in. He could only do this in short bursts, however. The thought of maybe this spider form wasn’t so bad, even crossed his mind a few times. He just really hoped he would get some magic soon. The day continued like this. At some point, the skeletons changed to ghouls and then to skeletons.

The spider Queen came back saying she was tired and hungry. Steven told her to take a break. They already made it to the hidden path, anyway. Nev left the dungeon to get some food, saying it would be much easier to go to the food rather than have her drones bring it here. She did, however, have the drones bring Steven food.