Hadorix did not want to attempt the shapeshifting yet. He was sure that they would be wondering where he got to in the pit. Or perhaps they would merely assume he had died. If there were spiders here, who knew what else would reside in the darkness. Hadorix picked up the torch and placed it in back in the bracket. He could now see in the dark relatively well. He would no longer need it. Hadorix then proceeded out of the small closet and went down the path. He no longer needed to feel along the wall. He could see the way clearly. Yet he still did, after all, he found one secret room with many treasures, who knew if he would find another?
To his disappointment, he found no more hidden rooms. He did however arrive upon a closed door at the end of the path. Hadorix carefully pushed it open and the light from outside completely blinded him. The spectators in the stands rose and screamed in anticipation. They had thought the newest combatant was afraid to enter. Now they could see him slaughtered for today, one of their own rank of vampires had volunteered. Seeing that the combatant was a human, they now understood why. Human blood was the most delicious of all the species the vampires could survive off. It also managed to increase the life span of the vampire. Typically, only the strongest were granted the kill in the pit of humans. Today however, Hadorix was rather lucky. The vampire he faced was young and inexperienced. The king had agreed to allow his heir, Cato, this kill. Humans were weak, and they entered the pit unarmed. He expected there to be no danger.
The vampire Cato charged at Hadorix. Hadorix pulled out the fangs of the spider. The audience gasped in surprise. The human was meant to be unarmed. Before they could scream a warning, Cato had already arrived at Hadorix. Hadorix infused his knives with wolf spider venom and slashed at Cato's neck. As soon as the blade touched Cato's skin, his flesh began to boil, and Cato let out an ungodly scream. He fell to the floor and began to writhe in agony. Hadorix again slashed at Cato. Each time his blade touched Cato's flesh a new bout of screams could be heard.
Cato continued to scream and writhe on the floor. His skin boiling from the cuts Hadorix had inflicted. Hadorix did not relent. He continued to slash and slash until eventually the screams stopped. Once Cato stopped screaming and moving, a light left his body and Hadorix fell to the floor and began to convulse. When he stopped convulsing, the body of Cato had disappeared. All that remained was his robe. The audience became frightened for the first time in their undeath. If this combatants' weapons could slay Cato with such ease, they stood no chance.
· Lifespan increased 200 years.
· Strength +15
· Dexterity +15
· Charisma + 20
· Gained soul of Cato.
· Alpha ability strengthened. "After absorbing vampire prince Cato, your max ability points have increased. Vampires are naturally much stronger than humans in most stats, as such your max ability points have increased by 75.
When Hadorix became able to move, he picked up Cato's black robe with gold trim. Gold runes were visible across the entire robe. Cato had not bothered to bring a weapon as he expected his fangs to be more than enough to satisfy the need. Hadorix boldly put the robe on. When he picked it up, he found the fangs and teeth of Cato underneath.
· Equipped royal vampire robe. Stealth abilities increased. Defense increased.
· Gained Fangs of Cato.
The entire audience gasped. Combatants were typically allowed to keep the gear from their first few kills, but this was Cato. Hadorix had just claimed the robe of a royal vampire. That robe was worth more than most of them would see in a decade, and now it belonged to a mere combatant. They all stared in disbelief. It was at this point that they noticed the crown on the head of Hadorix. None present in the audience were old enough to recognize it. The door behind Hadorix opened. He took the teeth and fangs and placed them in a pocket on the inside of the robe. He then went through the door and proceeded in the direction of his cell.
Once Hadorix had arrived in the series of cells, he again felt the cold penetrating through to his bones. The guard arrived soon after. He had not seen the battle and did not expect Hadorix to return. Upon seeing the robe and crown Hadorix wore, an expression of utter disbelief was apparent on the guard's face.
The guard spoke, "Where did you get that robe and crown boy? Show me your weapon. A puny creature like you could never have defeated Cato."
Hadorix pulled out the fangs of the spider. The guard involuntarily backed away from Hadorix and spoke again before Hadorix had the opportunity. "ARE THOSE THE FANGS OF THE SPIDER? He screamed. Your crown, do you have the crown of the spider? Where did you find that boy? The fangs of the spider have been missing for centuries. Few here remember them, but I do. Those enchanted silver blades wreaked much havoc upon the covens. How can it now be possessed by a mere human?"
Hadorix replied, "Where I found them is irrelevant. Would your cold be able to kill me before I can strike you? One strike is all it would take."
The guard backed away again. His fear inadvertently caused a reduction in his cold aura. Hadorix took this opportunity to charge at the guard slashing like a madman. The guard blocked the blow with his shield, took a knee, and spoke. "You mistake my intentions young mortal. I am the death knight Maximus. I serve the spider. If you gather the full set of the spider, you will gain the allegiance of my entire order. I do not serve the vampire king, though he does pay me well to tend to the prisoners and bring them to the door to the pit. I can see you will be the heir of the spider. My loyalty to that crown will never falter. I swore my allegiance to it long before you were even a thought boy. You may kill me if you desire, I will not resist after I have said my peace. But you will need allies if you desire to claim the spider's legacy."
· Quest received, find the spiders full legacy. "It is no longer enough to merely find the tomb of the spider. You have met one of the Spider's honor guards and gained his allegiance. This is merely the icing on the cake. Find and claim the Spiders legacy."
· Quest Reward, The legacy of the spider.
· Ally Gained, The Death Knight Maximus, Leader of the spider's guard.
Hadorix contemplated for a while. His quest was to destroy the undead, and here was one pledging to serve him. In this life, Hadorix did not believe that he could turn down an ally. Hadorix put the weapons back in his sheathes and replied, "I accept your service, and will return to my cell willingly. Do you know where the tomb of the spider is?"
Maximus replied, "None know exactly where the masters lair resided. I assume that his tomb lies within. Only Inky may have an idea, but she has also been missing for centuries."
Inky stepped into view and Maximus gasped. "You have the masters familiar. It is only a matter of time before you reclaim this place. Then it will be up to you what you call yourself. But know in this world, there has only ever been one that claimed the name of spider. That name carries with it a great amount of power."
Hadorix then went back to his cell. Upon seeing his attire, Zed was dumbfounded. He recognized the robe as that of a vampire. Zed only lived due to not yet facing one of the vampires, apparently orc blood did not taste particularly good.
Zed spoke, "Human, is that robe what I think it is? And why are you wearing a crown? Do you fancy yourself a king?"
Hadorix replied, "You told me we keep what we kill in the first few battles, though I think I will keep what I kill in every battle."
Zed said, "You killed a vampire? When next I go out, I will likely face one, it is nice to know that someone managed to kill one. I have weapons, but they are nothing compared to those of a vamp. How did you kill it?"
Hadorix pulled out his weapons and replied, "I killed it with these. If you fear to face the vamps in the next battle, I will gladly go for you. But if I save your life, you will owe me."
Zed responded, "Good luck convincing the guard to take you instead of me. You fought today already, if he brings you, he will be breaking the rules. That guard, has never changed the combatant in all the 10 days I have been here…"
Hadorix sat down in his cell and began reading the tome of the spider in his head. A few hours later, Maximus returned to take Zed for his match. Hadorix requested that he be taken instead of Zed. Maximus opened the cell of Hadorix and led him back to the pit.
Hadorix returned down the dark path with a new spring in his step. He opened the door, drew the spider's fangs, and charged into the pit. When he entered the audience became silent. The other combatant had not yet seen Hadorix and was still jumping and cheering. His robe bouncing with each step. Hadorix admired how similar it looked to his own. Were it not for the silver trim rather than gold, he would have thought it a royal robe? The vampire anticipated a quick massacre of the orc Zed. The blood might taste like sweaty ore, but it had its benefits. This vampire looked forward to gaining strength and a tiny amount of lifespan from the orc. The vampire turned and looked at his opponent. His face quickly changed. Hadorix unmistakably wore the robe of a royal vampire. The vampire involuntarily backed up a step and spoke, "You are not meant to be in this battle today. I am the great Vampire Lord Dresdin. Do you truly wish to die at my hand?"
Hadorix did not bother to respond. He threw the dagger in his right hand, aiming for the face of Lord Dresdin. Lord Dresdin used his superior strength and speed to grab the dagger from the air. When he grabbed the handle, his flesh began to boil, and he screamed out in agony. Hadorix then threw the dagger in his left hand. It stabbed straight into Lord Dresdin's chest. While Hadorix had missed the heart, the effect was unmistakable. Lord Dresdin fell to the floor and writhed in agony; his screams were so loud they could be heard throughout the realm the vampires had claimed. Fortunately, they did not last long, with the dagger having pierced through his chest, Lord Dresdin lasted merely a minute before he died.
Hadorix fell to the floor and began to convulse. A light exited Lord Dresdin's body. Once the body disappeared Hadorix stopped convulsing.
· Lifespan increased 500 years.
· Strength + 10
· Intellect + 5
· Wisdom + 5
· Dexterity + 15
· Constitution + 25
· Charisma + 25
· Luck + 20
· Energy + 300
· Gained title Lord. When equipped, Charisma and Strength are increased 10%.
Hadorix was amazed, he had gained 700 years of lifespan now. While Hadorix was already virtually immortal, this was lifespan that could not be removed even if he decided he did not desire to be a druid. Killing a creature seemed to give Hadorix the years they had remaining had they not been slain. Killing vampires surely had its perks. He then moved over to the pile of items from Lord Dresdin. Hadorix picked up the robe first. To his surprise, underneath was a full set of black leather armor. The pants for the armor had slots with daggers in them. Hadorix continued to look through the pile, under the armor he found a silk shirt and pants with runes etched across the surface in red thread. Hadorix also found a black longsword and belt. There were red flashes going down the sheath and blade like blood. Hadorix removed all his clothing. He then put on the silk shirt and pants, followed by the leather armor. He then proceeded to equip the royal vampire robes followed by the belt for the spider's fangs. He picked up the longsword belt and sword and placed it across his shoulder. Then he picked up Lord Dresden's robes. He would have to check it for hidden pockets. When he picked up the robe, he again found all of the teeth of the vampire. Hadorix hoped he could use these for something. He placed them in one of the inside pockets on the royal robes he wore.
· Equipped vampiric lords' leathers (Full Set) increased defense. Increased strength. Increased agility. Increased life leech.
· Equipped vampiric daggers.
· Equipped shirt of the vampire lord. Health doubled. Increased life leech.
· Equipped pants of the vampire lord. Increased life leech. Increased agility.
· Gained vampiric longsword.
· Gained vampire lords robes.
· Gained Fangs of Dresdin
After having gone through all his new loot, Hadorix proceeded through the door that opened behind him. He slowly walked back toward the cells. Once there he spoke to Maximus, "I do not want to keep the fangs of the spider on my waist. Is there another type of belt that I could use to equip them say on my wrists?"
Maximus laughed and responded. "It does not matter where you equip them. You can summon them to your hands with your mind. Now that you possess the crown, they will always return to your hands with merely a thought. Hell, the vampiric weapons work the same way. How do you think the vampires use them while wearing robes?"
Hadorix considered this and decided to put his weapons on under his robes. The vampiric leather pants had a great many slots for daggers and knives. Hadorix decided to put the fangs of the spider in two of them. He then put on the belt for the longsword and put his royal robes back on. Each battle, Hadorix gained more and more loot. Hadorix returned to his cell and began searching the pockets in the robes. He had so much loot so far that it didn't even cross his mind to check pockets before.