Civilization

Half-human, half spider… An Arachne. The mother spider? Queen spider?

"We are so screwed. Sorry, Ian looks like people are dying today." - Kingston

"Don't jinx it Kingston." - Ian

"That thing is definitely stronger than anything we fought before. What do you want us to do about it? Give it a love tap?" - Kingston

"I don't know." - Ian

I look away from the Arachne, turning to Kingston and everyone else but the moment I do, I feel an uncomfortable feeling behind me. Even though there is a fire behind me melting my back, I feel a chill. Like icicles are being stabbed into my back.

I know I shouldn't turn around. I know, but…

I gulp down my saliva and rigidly turn my head however before I could even turn it enough so that I could look behind me…

"Don't move." - ???

Everyone including myself froze up. Our muscles tense and our breathing stops. Just 2 words and we were rendered helpless.

I feel cold breath on my neck. Not daring to look I stare at a hole in the ground. My heart races faster and faster. It gets amplified when I feel a cold touch on the back of my neck. Just a finger but it sent waves throughout my whole body.

"What is your name?" - ???

"I-Ian." - Ian

"Mmm. A nice short name. Very, very nice~" - ???

Her voice sounds sweeter and more mellow than before. Despite that, my fear levels were rising. I feel the Arachne move closer to my back, wrapping her arms over my shoulders and placing her hands on my chest.

The moment she touched me I became stiff, I couldn't move any of my limbs. Stuck in a position where my guard was up the monster felt my whole body. Slowly taking off my armor one by one.

"Why did you kill my children, Ian? Be honest." - ???

"They attacked us. We retaliated. If we didn't kill them then we would have died." - Ian

"Ian-" - Kingston

"SILENCE! DID I ASK YOU BOY? NO! I was talking to Ian deary here." - ???

Her voice boomed in our ears as she silences Kingston and for a split second, I saw her face change from a human's face to a monster's.

"Now then, Ian dear~" - ???

The monster got even closer, wrapping her arms around my waist tightly. I could feel something soft and bouncy on my back as well as her breath quicken next to my ear. She brings her face closer, resting it on my right shoulder.

I could smell the scent of death coming from her but at the same time, it smelt sweet.

"You can look you know. I allow it~" - ???

Listening to her command I turn my head towards her until I locked eyes with her. Initially, I had thought she had only 2 eyes, like a normal human however, I was mistaken. There were 2 main eyes and above it was 6 smaller ones. Their blood-red color shines brightly as the moonlight blankets over her face. Her smile, was menacing but relaxed like she was calming deciding whether to kill us all or not.

"Ian~" - ???

"Yes?" - Ian

She brings her face closer to mine, brushing my nose with hers as she moves slightly past it. She proceeds to whisper in my ear but it was a different voice compared to the one she was using telepathically.

"My name is Selino. Queen of spiders." - Selino

Her sweet voice was like honey and despite how cold her breath was against my skin, it felt warm. Selino's cheeks turn rose pink as she leans away from me but I guess it was all in my imagination.

I feel a burning sensation under my ear on my neck. It felt like someone took a molten iron rod and pressed it against my skin. I was about to scream my lungs out when Selino grabs my mouth and lifts me up off the ground as if I was just a branch in her path.

I stare daggers into her face as I see her face light up. She is enjoying this. A large grin appears on her face as she blushes. She swings me side to side gripping me by the mouth and yet the pain on my neck intensifies. My screams turn into muffled sounds.

I glance around at everyone else only to see them all one step away from death. Thin threads trap them from moving. Thin cuts can be seen on David's and Kingston's necks, they can't move.

Selino starts to laugh, quietly at first. Her laughter sends chills down your spine. It wasn't loud yet it was the only thing I could hear. I couldn't even hear my own screams as her laughter fills my ears.

All of a sudden she slams me to the ground. Her long thin spider legs walk over me as she positions herself on top of me. Sitting on top of me and laughing her head off was this spider monster.

"Ian. Do you know what I did to you?" - Selino

I couldn't bear to answer. My body shaking in pain whale she looks at me with eyes of enjoyment.

"I gave you a gift. Or maybe it was a curse. After all, you did kill my precious children" - Selino

The pain starts to subside and at the same time, a system message appears before my eyes.

[ You have been cursed by the Queen of Spiders Selino. ]

"Let it be known to all you humans. Never mess with a spider and if you ever want to find me Ian~. Well…" - Selino

Bringing her face close to mine, she whispers in front of me with her sweet words.

"I serve The Horde himself." - Selino

She leans back and with a twist of her wrists knocks everyone out. Their lifeless body slumps to the ground but they were only unconscious not dead. She looks at me with a gentle smile, covering my eyes with her hand before slamming my head into the ground. Darkness creeps in and I fall into slumber.

.

.

.

I feel my body shake and my eyes slowly open. The harsh sunlight glares at me and I turn my head to the side to avoid it.

"IAN! He is awake! Everyone!" - Frank

"Frank…?" - Ian

My body feels weak and I could barely move my arms or legs.

"Don't move." - Stellar

"What…What's happening?" - Ian

I feel my head spin as the world around me moves faster than my eyes could comprehend.

"KEEP HIM STILL FRANK!" - Stellar

"On it!" - Frank

"Solar! Hurry!" - Stellar

I feel a warm liquid fill my mouth but my body reacts poorly to it. I start to cough and my body violently shakes.

"Move his head to the side, blood is pooling in his mouth." - Kingston

"Ready!

.niɒq ƨiʜ ɘʜɈooƨ bnɒ ƨɘɿυįni ƨiʜ lɒɘʜ Ɉi Ɉɘl

,γbod ƨiʜ ɿɘɈnɘ Ɉʜϱil ɘʜɈ Ɉɘl

,bnɘiɿʇ γm ƨƨɘld nυƨ ɘʜɈ γɒM

Heal!" - Solar

My body gets enveloped in a warm yellow light. It feels like being wrapped in blankets on a cold winter day. My head stops spinning and I could start to focus on my surroundings. I didn't realize it at first but everyone was around me in a circle. Their faces were full of worry but now relief spread across them.

I try my best to recollect the events that just happened and remember that Selino had cursed me. In the top right of my vision, where buffs were seen I see another icon. A black spider in a purple background.

[ Live on then, Yet Hang: Increase all stats by 20, however, once the time runs out the user will become an Arachne. As time runs out, the user will experience different phases of metamorphosis. Time left - 4373:49:23 ]

I immediately look at my stats to confirm the changes.

Name: Ian

Race: Human

Faith: 3423/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )

Happiness: 20  ( Happy ) 515/1000 ( Reach 1000 for a Golden Age )

Health Points (HP): 35/50

Mana Points (MP): 15/15

Strength: 30

Vitality: 25

Intelligence: 30

Dexterity: 25

Agility: 35

Luck: 31

Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace

Skill: Enhanced Agility (Active) - 3MP

Who would have thought, my stats look very decent. I laugh to myself internally, after all, I wonder what happens to me when I get turned into a spider.

"Ian, how are you feeling?" - Solar

"I-I'm fine. Thank you, Solar for the healing." - Ian

"It's fine. Do you remember what happened to you before you passed out?" - Solar

"I got swung around by a half-human half-spider monster who claims she is a spider queen and that she works for The Horde and then I got cursed by her. Sound about right?" - Ian

"Pretty much." - Stellar

"You are still hurt Ian. Please, for now, rest up." - Solar

"No, we should leave here." - Ian

"It's fine. The Queen of Spiders left this part of the forest." - Stellar

"How do you know?" - Ian

"Look." - Stellar

I follow Stellar's finger as she points towards a large tree. Carved out in the trunk were the words.

"See you soon, Ian"

Followed by a heart.

"That does look like something Selino would say…" - Ian

"Right? So, Ian are you gonna talk to us about how you seduced an Arachne, or are we just gonna pass on that?" - Kingston

"What are you on about? I was about to die?" - Ian

"Right. BUT did you see how much love she was giving you? She was hugging you and touching you and like she gave you a big hickey under your right ear." - Kingston

"Ian, it is okay. We believe in your judgment"- David

"WHAT?" - Ian

"See, even David knows." - Kingston

"I guess, Ian is just that amazing to even get another being to like him." - Frank

"That is true, I thought he was going to acquire the love of Solar or Stellar first but he outdid my predictions." - Yor

"Yor? Frank? Is that what you think of me?" - Ian

"I thought Gyumi was going to be Leader Ian's bride to be." - Gibing

"GIBING! Come here." - Gyumi

The sound of laughter coming from the rest of the group sounded out in the clearing. After a sleepless night, everyone was mentally and physically tired. With a rotation of scouts throughout the morning, we were safe for the time being. Everyone got to rest up as much as they can and Kingston and I went back into the real world.

......…

"Ian, can we talk about the last few days?" - Kingston

"What's wrong?" - Ian

"I'm being to have doubts about us moving along." - Kingston

"Is it because of the dangers we have been facing?" - Ian

"Partial because of that but remember how you told me about Melody's prediction of the future?" - Kingston

"Yea. I asked for your advice on it." - Ian

"We have been through 2 major battles which could have ended our journey but maybe because we were lucky or something, we came out of it with just Yor getting injured and you getting a curse." - Kingston

"What are you saying?" - Ian

"None of the dreams have come true yet." - Kingston

"Right, because there is a chance for it to come true. It wasn't confirmed." - Ian

"No, what I'm saying is that if none of them have come true and we have experienced all of this already, I feel like all 3 dreams are going to happen. " - Kingston

"Did you find out something?" - Ian

"Yea, a member of Bones apparent got killed by a dinosaur-like monster and another fell into a hole where it was pitch black. The member got eaten alive without knowing what was killing him." - Kingston

"Are you serious?" - Ian

"Both members were the only members that were close to a mountain range. I can only assume it is the same one we are heading to, but there is no way to confirm it." - Kingston

"It will be fine. Hopefully…" - Ian