34 The Wolf Pack

The core was handed to Guy without question. Well honestly I did have a question, but it was not about who got the core, he was our tank so obviously he would receive the tank type beast core. "You have said that twice, a chance of mutation when advancing class at level 10? What does that mean?"

Summer smiled, the look on her face was a mixture of "I'm glad you asked" and "I'm so smart".

"The chance of mutation refers to getting a specialized class upon leveling up at level 10. Each of these cores gives you a 10% chance, while some cores are more and some less. A spider queen for example has only a 5 % chance of a mutation, but gives a massive boost of 4 to a stat, however those points are predetermined as to what sub stats they go to. A regular core not only does not give any bonus stats, they also have zero chance of mutation."

I nodded at her "I told you that you were useful." Summer beamed at my announcement, turning slightly red. The image was honestly disgusting as in my eyes she was a decaying corpse.

We continued forward, the squad that had led the consort to us long gone. "Do you think that squad led the spider to us on purpose?" Summer asked. Silence was the only response. The truth was I suspected it as well, but had no proof.

I kept an eye on our rear as we continued forward, the small spiders keeping a distance as the recent scene of the death of one of their princes was still vivid in their minds. We walked without incident, and the sun soon began to set. We decided to set up camp, gathering the supplies to make a fire and set up a naked shift tent.

Spiders crept in on us, but did not approach closer than 100 yards. They seemed to be waiting for something. A few minutes later rustling could be heard as four human figures walked towards our fire unimpeded by the spiders. A tall bulky man in an orange uniform with a white band led the group. He looked familiar, but the image of a wolf on his right arm gave away his identity. He was a lycan, one of the man made espers. Behind him stood a tank and a magus, both male. They both had an image of a wolf as well. The one who sent shivers down my spine however was the short girl in the back. She had pale skin and long black hair. A picture of a black widow on her right arm. My essence eye detecting an aura of pale green essence surrounding her. Poison affinity, a pretty high one. Subconsciously I entered stealth, slipping into the shadows.

The tall man laughed "there is no point in hiding vampire, I can smell the disgusting stench of your kind a mile away. I was going to just take the demonic orb you robbed from us, but I think now I'm going to just kill you."

The man did not carry a weapon, his body shifting into a half man half wolf form as he rushed my direction. He swung his paw at me, the claws missing me by inches. I smiled as I maintained my stealth. His scent could detect I was here, but he couldn't pinpoint my exact location.

I did not summon Blood Drinker, as killing another was against the rules, but that didn't mean I would just sit back and do nothing. My foot shot out like lightning, hitting the back of his knee before I jumped back. The lycan fell to one knee, he swung his bestial arm back towards where I had been standing. Inlet out a taunting laugh and I circled around him, keeping an eye on the others. The two other lycans stood there with a dumbfounded expression on their faces, but the spider was no where to be seen. A scream penetrated the air as Summer fell to the floor, her head separated from her body. Before the spider woman disappeared back into the shadows. The poisonous aura disappearing into nothing.

I screamed as my bloodlust took control. Blood Drinker appeared in my hand as it slashed towards the still kneeling lycan. He managed to roll, avoiding a lethal strike, but a large gash appeared on his back. Death essence rushing towards the wound even as it healed. Blood gushed from the wound that wound not heal despite the lycans monstrous regeneration. When the wound closed up, it would burst open, spraying blood over the surroundings.

I did not have time to admire the view however as I rushed towards the remainder of my squad. Before I could reach, a web like string appeared across Guy's neck, blood flooded from his neck, as his body fell, his head suspended In the air. His eyes blinked as he opened his mouth and a silent scream escaped his dying mouth before the head tumbled to the ground.

As the head hit the floor I arrived before Lily, I threw her over my shoulder as I darted into the pitch black forest around me. I felt a cuts cover my body, as the spider woman deadly threads gashed into my body, but the wounds healed as soon as they appeared, causing my essence to plummet. On my shoulder Lily screamed, blood pouring from the countless wounds that covered her body. I could sense the poisonous essence that gathered in each of her wounds.

I ran as fast as I could, deeper into the forest. Blood Drinker slashing at the spiders that approached, fueling my essence. I stopped after running for an hour, on my shoulder Lily had called unconscious, I was soaked in her blood and the poison essence was eating away at her insides.

Setting her down on the ground, I bit into my arm, pouring the blood onto her numerous wounds, before forcing it into her mouth. Each second felt like an eternity as I slashed at the endless spiders who were approaching the almost dead prey. Their advance only fueled my essence, which was then absorbed into Lily.

I don't know how much time passed, the sun was high in the sky when I came back to my senses. I was still standing protectively over Lily, her wounds had closed up, and the poison essence was gone. But she was not awake. I knew instinctively that it was just her own exhaustion. She would be ok after she rested.

The rustling from the nearby trees however went to show that I would not be getting rest any time soon. My essence eye picked up a large amount of poison essence moving my direction. The spider that came into view was a lot smaller than the consorts, roughly twice the size of these small fries. However a pale green shape could roughly be seen under it's belly, and venom was visibly dropping from its fangs.

The third and final spider consort of the queen approached me, It's ten eyes all a different shade of green. It moved quickly as it dashed towards me, it had no need for stealth as it was a blur from speed alone. I slashed out with Blood Drinker, my arm vibrating as it collided with the beast. As my blade bounced its carapace it confirmed what I already knew. Rainbow eyed consort, magus type. Enhanced magic resistance. Inside I sighed as I once again activated Blood Lust. My meager attack power jumping to three. This was going to be a long fight.

The consort's speed increased on the next attack, its corrosive venom sizzling against Blood Drinker as I blocked the attack. My feet were planted firmly where they were, and I would not move an inch, or the consort would get its prey, my beloved, Lily.

Before the spider landed I sent a flawing blade to it, it bounced almost harmlessly from its hide. Leaving only a white mark. But it was enough, I could win.

The clashes continued, my blade clashing against its fangs, its venom chipping away at blood Drinker, my flying blades chipping away at its armor. With a violent clash my blade struck the carapace of the spider, sparks flying as a small chunk fell to the floor. A light flashed in my eye as the tip of my blade scratched the soft flesh underneath. Check mate you eight legged freak.

The consort grew more desperate as it attacked, venom flowing from it's fangs with each clash, my once beautiful Blood Drinker becoming a corroded mess. Blood Drinker disappeared into a flash of blood red light as it entered my inner world to recover. The spider's eyes shined in glee as it rushed towards me. As it leaped through the air its 10 green eyes shone dimly in shock as the life faded from them. It fell to meet feet, a princely pile of goo.

Sweat dripped down my forehead and my legs were weak as I picked up the white beast core with green stripes. In my head I heard Summer's annoying voice exclaiming "sometimes a beast will have a major and a minor like a lost one, in the case of a consort the minor is always the same as the Queen."