Chereads / Arachnomancer / Chapter 26 - Wretched ones

Chapter 26 - Wretched ones

-Fellia POV

Shit! What's wrong with this nest!?!? We thought, that in the worst case, there would be a few of the old protector's children. But no, this place has become some weird biome for poisonous creatures. We should have realized something was wrong when all the webs that were supposed to be white turned purple.

We didn't decide to leave until we found the corpses of the protector's children. By then it was too late. Centipedes, lizards, even squids. They climbed out of the pile of corpses. What were creatures like those even doing here!?!? This place isn't a dungeon now is it? Can't be....

The original 273 members of this expedition has dwindled to a bit over 10. Even Felix has been poisoned. I don't think he'll make it. When we ran out of the hallway he fell into a puddle of weird goo.... That must be what was used to kill the protector seeing as her corpse is missing..... He's dead.....

I have to get back to Sigrid. She knows a lot more than she lets on. She may appear to be a waste but, she has survived pretty long as a member of the religious faction.

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She's gone. Piece of shit. I killed the slaves she was screwing. It can't be a coincidence that she dissappeared now.... Why would she up and leave though? It cant be.... I leave my subordinates behind and sneak back to the protector's nest.....

No.... Hundreds of creatures have started pouring out of the nest..... It's turned into a wretched hive. I didn't think they existed. We're all fucked. They were supposed to be tales to scare children.

...

...

I see Felix. His head is attached to the top of a snake's head. Not a snake. It has spider legs. His.... head is bobbing around but, suddenly in turns in my direction and smiles.

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-Sigrid POV

My acting worked wonders. I would've been screwed if he just let me go. Luckily he is not that stupid. After answering some of his questions, he goes quiet. The metal and black spider stare at me. They both give me a disturbing feeling.

Still, I am in a safe position now. This nest is the only safe haven for what is about to occur. A massive amount of wretched is something that has brought down countries.... I wonder what catalyzed their spawning? It could have been caused by what was done to the old protector and her family..... No, there had to be a spacial disturbance to have them spawn.

Perhaps this one is involved. He is a very unique individual that appeared out of nowhere. There is something wrong with his head as well. I wonder how he could survive what is to come but, my ability has never been wrong..... I hope he doesn't just decide to kill me. I can offer him my knowledge or my body. He should latch onto one of those.

-Gin POV

What to do.... It's too dangerous to just let her wander the nest. She probably still has some trump cards since she is a leader of the nearby drow settlement. I can't exactly trust the info she gave me either. Most of it should be right but....

"Alright I will leave you incased in web. The spiderlings will take care of your needs." Gin

"Wait! I have more information. You seem to not know much so I can help. You seem to be alone so I can help with other things as well." Sigrid

Alone?Other things?.... Gross.... Remembering the scent she had on her when I kidnapped her I get a little insight on how she is.... The knowledge would be helpful though. Can't be sure of the accuracy of it though.

"Why should I trust anything that you say? In fact, what you have told me could be lies. I will not place any real trust into you." Gin

She goes quiet for a bit. She must be thinking out what to say.

*Sigh

"I'm willing to be subordinated." Sigrid

*Captive is highly compatible for assimilation into a Broodmother. However, doing so will have unforeseen consequences. Y/N?

I'm not sure what to do again. I'm fine with Xelu, Set, and Kess but, that is because they have max loyalty. What is loyalty? How does it influence subordinates? I doubt that if I accept her as a regular subordinate she will be loyal.

As for making her into a broodmother? I still don't know.... At least she is 'highly compatible'. Xelu was just 'compatible'. Is it because Drow worship spiders? lets shelve this issue for a while. I need to see how the rest of the drow will react now that one of their leaders is gone.

"I'll think about it. Until I think of what to do, you will remain here. Xelu, Kess, watch over her in case she makes any suspicious actions." Gin

I have Set rebind. We leave the nest to spy on the drow. I can't imagine them sitting still after one of their leaders disappearing. I climb a tree near the encampment they set up..... Huhh???? Out of the tent that Sigrid came out of ealier I see a drow with sword. She is holding a head in her other hand. Looking at her bearing I think she may be another leader. Thinking on it, the head may belong to a slave.

She tosses the head into a bush as she leaves the encampment..... She disappeared....

'I can follow her if you want master~' Set

Set gives a suggestion which I agree with. She points me in the direction that she is heading.

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I am met with a familiar sight. It is the Arachne Queen's nest.... The difference is that weird creatures are flowing out. Those.... Are hybrids? They are amalgamations of different creatures. Some even have humanoid features. I see one with a human head that is alive..... The drow leader exits stealth and collapses on her knees.

A centipede scuttles up to her. It is massive. About 3 meters tall and who knows how long. How it squeezed out of the cave is a mystery. It grabs her head with its mandible and swallows her. It twitches a whole bunch and her head pokes out of the side of its one of its body segments. This world is horrible.