The Tarantula Boss
POV: Hazel
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Hazel
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Species: Homo Sapien
Race: French / Spanish
Class: Cryomancer (Rank F)
Stats: | Affinity:
Strength: 7 | Common
Agility: 12 | Uncommon
Stamina: 11 | Uncommon
Ability Control: 21 | World
Pressure: ?? | Epic
Skills:
Shatter: (Rank E)
Proficiency: 15/100
Ice Wall (Rank F)
Proficiency: 18/100
Point Freeze (Rank E)
Proficiency: 22/100
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We began to move diligently towards the final tunnel. However, our progress was slow. The group was making frequent stops for people to catch their breath.
I had actually gone days without eating before. Back in junior high, I was bullied for being a little overweight. It hit me hard, and I went a week without food, followed by a strict diet.
This was completely different though. We were expending energy rapidly. Now, I could feel my body cannibalizing itself, tearing apart what little muscle I had. If this continued, it would only get worse.
I wasn't only thinking about my hunger though. The barbaric death of our leader had stained my memory and I couldn't get the image out of my head. I looked over to my right and saw Xavier with a crumpled expression. My heart broke as I saw the expression that so accurately showed how I, myself, felt.
I reached my hand out to Xavier and grabbed his hand softly. He obliged and tightened his little grip around my hand. Arlo had adopted him and taken on the role as father. I grew closer to Xavier over these past few days and took on the role of an aunt in an attempt to mend that pain.
As we reached the final tunnel, Jeremiah spoke, "Everyone get in a single line formation. Kenji, I want you to be at the rear."
Kenji nodded and fell into the rear of the new formation.
The cave walls tightened and began to close in on us. The sparse plants that spotted the central cave began to slowly disappear as we ventured deeper into the tunnel. However, the bio-luminescent spores that drifted aimlessly through the cave still remained. Our surroundings eventually became a softly illuminated, lifeless spectrum of gray. The cold, hard rock walls guided us forward until we finally came upon an opening.
The tunnel opened up into a large oval-shaped area. This was the last unexplored area of the cavern, and to everyone's horror, there was nothing inside.
It was a dead end.
Jeremiah seemed to be looking up at something.
"Everyone get into battle formation!" he yelled.
The group members began to shift around to their positions nervously.
I asked worriedly, "Jeremiah, what is it?"
He picked up his finger and slowly pointed to the cave ceiling. In the center was a 6x6 meter hole that went up far past the roof of the cave.
The hairs on my body stood on end as a single strand of silk dropped from the hole.
Boom!
Almost instantaneously, a gargantuan spider descended to the cave floor and impacted it at incredible speed. It let out a hissing sound that made my skin crawl.
We can handle this.
As I thought this, hundreds of smaller spiders began to pour out of the hole in the ceiling.
None of the group members had any AOE besides Jermiah's group stun. Even that would only buy us a few seconds. If they escaped, everyone here would certainly die. I had to block the hole!
My right eye burst into a fierce torrent of purple particles as I activated my skill.
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Activating Ice Wall
Proficiency: 19/100
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The hole in the ceiling began to frost and harden. The smaller spiders began to slam their legs into the thin ice and make small cracks.
The Tarantula boss charged at insane speeds towards Jeremiah. A shield materialized in his hands and his eye burst into a violet whirl as he activated multiple skills.
"Gah!" Jeremiah yelled as he was slowly pushed back by the Tarantula. He dug his feet into the ground as he was pushed back, but continued to lose ground.
The smaller spiders continually assaulted the ice wall until there were holes large enough for them to fit through. Spiders began to rapidly leak through the hole as the ice wall's influence waned.
I materialized a staff in my hands and reapplied the spell.
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Activating Ice Wall
Proficiency: 19/100
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The ice wall consolidated and began to cover the hole again as the spiders that had already escaped rushed towards our party. I couldn't afford to worry about them right now as the imminent horde clawed at the ice wall ferociously.
Blaire, Ezra, and Kenji charged the tarantula to take some pressure off of Jeremiah. Gael remained near the ranged party members with his sword on guard.
Lights began to flash vibrantly as small vultures were summoned.
Lightning crackled across Nikita's skin before she brought down a beam of electricity on the boss.
Ezra jumped on top of the tarantula with his crimson red axe, and dug it deep. As the tarantula turned to throw him off, Ezra grabbed onto the side of its face and unleashed a small explosion.
I intensified the ice wall and began casting the spell repeatedly.
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Activating Ice Wall
Proficiency: 19/100
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Activating Ice Wall
Proficiency: 20/100
Proficiency +1
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Activating Ice Wall
Proficiency: 20/100
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I leaned on my staff as my legs began to give out from beneath me. As I looked up with blurred vision, I saw the smaller spiders approach the group rapidly.
Jeremiah seemed to notice as well and let out a loud roar as violet particles warped next to him. The spiders became frozen in fear and stopped their advance. Aria pulled back on her bow and began to eliminate the vulnerable spiders one by one.
I wanted to help her, but my right eye flickered and gave out as it returned to a dull, lifeless hazel. I couldn't help anymore.
Blaire spun in the air and her right eye lit up with a vibrant glow as she sliced one of the arachnid's hind legs clean off.
The tarantula seemed to go into a rage and threw Ezra off of it. It charged Jeremiah and sent him flying into the wall behind us. Our formation broke apart and our summoner, Lani, stood wide-eyed as the tarantula headed straight for her.
As time began to slow, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xavier slowly raise his hand as the air around us began to warp.
A chill ran up my spine as his incantation echoed throughout the cave.
Xavier spoke with cold indifference.
"Break."
The Tarantula immediately collapsed in on itself and impacted the ground, bursting into an array of red particles. The remaining spiders on the floor also began to dissipate into a soft red mist.
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Enemy Felled
+1 Ability Control
+1 Stamina
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Mission Complete
Difficulty: E
Objective: Kill the Tarantula Boss
Rewards: Access to the Third Floor
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Hazel picked herself up with her staff as her eyes threatened to unleash a waterfall. She went over to Xavier and hugged him, "You did great, Xav."
Xavier let the warmth flood over him as he slowly pulled me closer.
Jeremiah picked himself up from the cavern wall and went into a short coughing fit.
As the 'mission completed' screen appeared in front of the survivors, the room shook slightly and an elevator appeared at the end of the room.
Lani ran over to Ezra and ripped off what remained of her tattered shirt. She grabbed Ezra's arm and began wrapping it as he grunted in pain. Her bra was completely exposed, but none of the group was fazed by it. Nobody had the strength nor the will to try anything at this point.
There was just a soft look of appreciation on Ezra's face as Lani applied the makeshift bandage.
As Jeremiah's coughing subsided, he began walked slowly to the elevator door.
I grabbed Xavier's hand and went to join him.
One by one, the group members appeared at the door, with Ezra and Lani coming last. Lani had her arm around Ezra as she supported him on his way to the door.
Jeremiah nodded and tapped Ezra's shoulder lightly, "You did well."
Ezra nodded and remained silent.
He looked to the rest of the group. "You all did well."
He paused then continued speaking with a motioning movement towards the elevator "There's only one thing left to do now."
A mixture of hope, fear, anger, sadness, and excitement came over the group as we all stared at the elevator in awe.
I nodded and pushed the button on the elevator.
None of us were sure what the third floor contained. It would undoubtedly be more dangerous than this one, but if there was even a chance that we could catch a break, then it would all be worth it.
The doors of the elevator flung open and an ominous feeling came over me.
We entered carefully. We had only been on this elevator to go to the second floor. It was still a very new thing for us. When everyone had entered, the doors shut tightly, and the elevator entered free fall.
The sound of screeching metal was heard as I looked at the wall, trying to distract myself from the oncoming threat.
As we impacted the bottom, I was thrown into the side of the wall and let out a slight grunt.
The doors to the elevator opened as the button showing the number "3" lit up.
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You have entered the Third Floor
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As we exited the elevator, a strange environment opened up before us. The sky was covered in flames and a vast desert was laid out in front of us with a few sandstone houses standing erect.
'Not exactly what I was hoping for.'
As Lani and Ezra exited the elevator, it disappeared into thin air.
Ezra grunted, "I guess we're stuck here."
A clacking voice sounded from behind us, "Evelvoors, cen ai inshrest yoa en sum foodh?"
I snapped around to see a giant preying mantis standing in front of a food stall, seemingly pointing to his merchandise with his scythe-like arms.
My mouth began to water as I looked at the meats and vegetables.
Gael put his arm in front of me and approached the creature, "Who are you?"