Good morning.
Or something like that.
After defeating that scorpion, I moved to a new spot. Since this place seems pretty suitable, I built a home here.
Unlike before, I put a lot of effort into this house.
Ummm.
Basically, I've been moving around so much lately that I'm exhausted, so I want to find a place to settle down. I mentioned this before, but now I'm finally doing it.
I'm not sure how long I'll stay, but having a proper home is what I want.
I chose a spot high up on a cliff wall, with countless ultra-thin, super-sticky [Spider Silk] threads spread below.
I think I'll stay here for a while.
Oh, and I'm not being lazy, okay?
I'm still training my skills regularly.
Since I spent the whole morning building my house with silk, my [Spider Silk] skill has reached level four.
I've also been constantly using [Sensing] on this area, which helped it level up too. With the level-up, my sensing range increased, letting me detect dangers faster.
I also tried a few things to see if I could unlock new skills. First, I focused on sensory skills, and after several attempts, I gained [Enhanced Hearing Lv1], [Enhanced Smell Lv1], and [Enhanced Touch Lv1].
Awesome.
After that haul, I sprawl out.
So boring…
I start missing the thrill of battle.
But then I remember the pain of getting injured, and suddenly I don't miss it anymore. I said I'd stay put this time, so I'll stick to my word.
With nothing to do, I start reflecting on my recent days.
It's been nothing but fighting, eating, and sleeping.
Right, maybe I should come up with some strategies for myself. I can't keep throwing everything I have into every fight like a mess. I have a ton of skills, so if I learn to combine them properly, I could get even stronger.
I review how I've been fighting.
For defense, I have [Invincible Shield], which is insanely powerful but drains all my energy in one use. I think I need a lower-tier defensive skill for regular use, saving [Invincible Shield] for big attacks.
For scouting, I have [Sensing] and [Appraisal], which are good enough, so I'm not too worried about this. [Sensing] is leveling up steadily, so I'm more confident, though it failed me once before and nearly got me killed.
For stealth, I only have [Stealth], and it feels lacking.
I need another skill, and I remember that scorpion's ability to fool my [Sensing].
Hmm, I'll check the shop later.
For control, I can combine [Paralyzing Evil Eye] and [Heaven's Net], sometimes using [Intimidation], so this part's covered.
Next are the two areas I'm weakest in: attacking and escaping.
My speed is pretty slow, and I don't have any escape skills at all.
For attacking, I only have [Venomous Fangs], which relies heavily on poison and requires combining with other skills to effectively inject venom into enemies.
That's way too inconvenient.
Thinking this, I start browsing the shop.
First, I want an attack skill, preferably one with area-of-effect damage.
Oh, there are quite a few recommended skills.
But I don't know what they do. What if I buy one that needs specific conditions to activate? That'd be a waste.
In that case, I think picking skills with clear, simple names is best—and they need to be cheap.
Let's see, let's see…
Oh, this one looks good.
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I don't think I got its effect wrong, right?
I browse the shop again but can't find anything else suitable—or rather, I can't tell what most skills do just from their names, and some have really weird names too.
I don't dare buy randomly anymore.
While I'm hesitating, something gets caught in my silk.
Is it a prey, huh?
I close the shop browsing and go check.
Nai wa!
I thought it was just some stray creature, but… but…
Why are there so many?
I see over ten creatures tangled in my silk. They're all species I've never seen, so I use [Appraisal] on them.
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Umm, no clue what these are. Weird names and strange appearances.
I don't bother figuring out what they are— they're all going in my stomach anyway. But this time, I don't use [Venomous Fangs]. Instead, I test [Poison Mist] to see how it works.
When I activate it, a purple mist spreads around me, and when the prey inhales it, they start thrashing but die shortly after.
Pretty decent effect.
Not a waste this time. Now, time to sort this food pile.
I decide to eat only half, saving the rest for later.
I can't believe this tiny body can eat so much. After stuffing myself, I go back to training my skill proficiency.
I keep producing silk and start playing with shapes. First, I make simple ones like circles, cubes, and triangles…
Wow, it's tougher than I thought, but with my dexterous hands—er, legs—I quickly master it and move on to more complex shapes.
This is more fun than I expected.
I get so absorbed in the fun that I forget my original goal.
A day passes—or at least I think so.
I'm still in my cozy home, now filled with silk sculptures I made in my spare time.
Umm… honestly, I feel a bit proud.
I still have plenty of food since I've been rationing, but at this rate, it'll run out in about two days.
Ugh~
I ate not long ago, but I'm hungry again. Is this because I eat too much, or do spiders just need this much food?
Then again, what spider is like me?
Haaa.
I chuckle at myself but can't resist grabbing a small bite.
Well… just one piece won't hurt, right?
Aaaa~
Just as I'm about to eat, another tremor hits, making me sway. My food falls to the ground, but I ignore it and immediately use [Sensing].
After scanning around, I can't pinpoint where the tremor came from—it's beyond my sensing range.
Phew, that's fine—
Aaahh!!
Suddenly, I detect a ton of vibrations, and they seem to be heading toward me.
What's going on?
I panic a bit because there are so many vibrations. They're small individually, but together, they're overwhelming.
No time to think—I prepare for battle.
After observing for a bit, I spot the first creature running toward me.
I immediately use [Appraisal] on it.
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Following it are tons of creatures, all different species.
I appraisal each one I see.
So many… too many… I keep appraising, but there are still more. There must be over a hundred creatures here, with dozens of different species…
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Oh, finally leveled up! But I don't have time to care and keep appraising—this is a great chance to grind experience for this skill.
On closer look, they don't seem to be targeting me. They're running chaotically, like they're fleeing something.
I let out a relieved breath, but then I realize this is a perfect opportunity to stock up on food. I rush to a high vantage point, shoot my silk, and combine it with [Heaven's Net] while releasing [Poison Mist].
A purple mist spreads from me, gradually covering the area. I trap a bunch of creatures—they struggle fiercely, but my silk is top-tier now, and they can't break free. Weakened by the poison, they're helpless.
To be safe, I add more silk layers. Once I'm sure they're secured, I shoot more silk to catch a second wave.
So many.
So many.
So much food, ahh!
So much experience, ahh!
Some creatures, seeing their allies caught, stop to growl at me but flee after a few roars.
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As the poison mist spreads and slows them down, I catch even more.
I keep at it for a while.
Wow, there are so many!
I bet some massive disaster hit their area, causing this huge stampede.
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During the capture, some try to attack me, but I stop them with [Paralyzing Evil Eye]. I pull them closer with silk, exposing them to the densest poison mist, then finish them off with [Venomous Fangs].
After a while, it's finally over.
Thanks to this unexpected stampede, I've gained quite a haul.
My newly bought [Poison Mist] hadn't had much grinding time but leveled up successfully. [Heaven's Net] leveled up too.
In total, I caught over a hundred creatures. Some I recognize, others are new, so I [Appraisal] them all.
After tallying, I drag everything into my house. Most are heavily weakened by poison, some are already dead, but a few are still resisting.
Now for my favorite part!
Finishing them off!
I can already see the experience points waiting for me, so I don't hesitate and use [Venomous Fangs] to kill them one by one.
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Wow, I only killed half, and I already leveled up!
What a great day—experience and food falling from the sky. Fueled by excitement, I finish off the rest.
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Killing over a hundred creatures in one go was tiring, but seeing those level-up notifications twice in a row wipes away all my fatigue.
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Another skill leveled up!
After all that hard work, it's time to reward myself with a few small bites.
I was already starving, and now I've hit my limit, so I dive in and eat nonstop. Thanks to leveling up, my physical condition is back to normal, but I'm still mentally exhausted, so I take a long nap right after.
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Good morning.
I start the day with some basic exercises to wake up my body. Even as a spider, I try to keep my old human habits, though I can't fully maintain them.
After that rare buffet, I'm not sure what to do now.
Oh, I think [Appraisal] leveled up earlier.
Let's check.
Appraisal!
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Still no change?
Appraisal-san, you're letting me down.
Why aren't you growing up??
I've been nurturing you!
I'm a bit frustrated since this skill hasn't been very useful despite all the time I've spent grinding it.
Look at me now!
Arguing with a lifeless skill…
I've really lost my mind.