Spider Of Lust

The onyx tower had no end. It continued rising above the clouds, it had a circular shape, each floor big enough to hold a titan. It reminded me of a story, which probably served as inspiration. It reached the heavens, something the Babel Tower, its inspiration, had failed.

Vegetation had infested it, maybe this was because of the lack of testers. The green distinguished itself from the shining black, meanwhile, it wasn't as colorful as the one from the grass.

Since the endless size, you couldn't see where it had rooted, only the vines wrapping themselves against it. As if nature was trying to destroy it as if nature wanted to eradicate this human creation.

The air was constantly unleashing its wrath against it, but the black tower wouldn't budge. It could withstand even the most sinful storms. 

Each floor had countless windows, but none of them held an image of what was inside, only darkness allowed itself to be seen through these intentional cracks. 

'Yeah no, I refuse to go inside.' It wasn't that I was scared or anything, but if this stretched endlessly, these guys would definitely expect me to continue climbing until I die. And to keep me from leaving they would either bride me or manipulate me.

I grinned. 'Like that would ever happen.' I said while walking toward the dark tower, that was nothing but creepy. How did it exist? I get that these guys were top researchers, but how did they create it? Where even was I? Was I in a memory, or between the two worlds?

There were too many unanswered questions, but that only made me more excited to unravel the mystery of this cursed tower.

My feet started moving towards it, as a mischievous grin sneaked itself on my face. The door of the Onyx Tower was gigantic, bigger than the floor itself, which made me wonder how its size worked. Was it really infinite, what was there on the inside? What comes after the darkness?

My muscles tightened, as I pushed open the door. But as I moved my head, I found myself in the middle of a town, but I knew this town. I had been here a long time ago.

The red lanterns disturbed the night, painting it in warm colors. The crowd of people cheering and laughing, the kimonos they were wearing. The thousands of shops, some for specific subjects and some ones you would see at a corner store.

The decoration above us and the orange trees. The architectural style of the building. The sound of people performing, the sound of fresh food... I knew this place. 

[Welcome contractor Moon! Good luck on the first floor of the Onyx Tower!]

Wait a system message? But how? The system only speaks about things related to The Core or memories. Was I not in the tower anymore, but then why does it even exist? Is this place somehow in the tower, or was the Tower part of the system?

Was the tower all this time, part of The Core?

'Damn it, this is the first floor and there are already too many questions.'

[The first floor takes place in the Red-Light district! So don't get distracted!]

'Very funny system, maybe to a fifteen-year-old... wait I'm technically fifteen so scratch that.'

Enough with the jokes, this was the first floor and it already seemed difficult. After all, I had to somehow find and eliminate the nightmare creatures in this massive district. With bothering left and right to buy their product... or service.

I sighed and looked around. Millions of people walking beside me, some with a partner, some alone like I was. And some looking for something... specific.

But even with this busy atmosphere, I can't say this place wasn't beautiful. It was always amazing to have your nostrils be touched by the smell of food, and in this place this scent was all around you, practically arousing you into its odor, but of course, even this was a trick.

Everything here was a trick, from the bright colors meant to excite you... in both contexts. The odor of the food, to relax your guard, and even some of the people in the crowd there as traps. Hired by others to keep the atmosphere, and guide people to their shop.

It had a great trick, working on most travelers and tourists. Of course, it wouldn't work on me, I was the Kin-

"Fresh shrimp at only one thousand Yen! The best in the district!"

In a gust of wind, a lone boy appeared in front of him. With a bright smile and his red checks, he said.

'One portion please!'

...

In a corner of an alleyway, I could be seen, vomiting my insides out. 'Should have thought he would put something in them.'

Don't judge me ok? Even kings have their weaknesses. Mine was and still is shrimp... of course not with whatever he added. 

I had always loved it, since I was a tiny tiny dragon, trying to survive all alone in the evilness of The Core. It was actually the first thing I had ever tasted. And to this day, it's my favorite.

 I guess I formed a bond with it, one higher than completing this floor entirely.

Speaking of clearing this disaster, it was most likely impossible to do it with all these people outside. After all, the monsters could have shapeshifting abilities, making it entirely impossible to find them in this ocean of people.

Speaking of shapeshifting, in my time as a kind, I had assigned one as my right hand. But this decision would turn on to be a mistake, as she betrayed me and gave a human a contract.

'I'll kill her next time I'll see her.'

So what was I going to do? It was more simple than you think. Just return to the human world and wait for it to turn day, then come back when there aren't many people.

'Hey system, how do I leave?'

[To temporarily leave, you will have to say the following word. 'Return']

It was kind of basic, I was expecting more keeping in mind the complexity of the tower itself. But I guess no one has an unlimited budget.

'Return'

[Error. Unable to return the user to the human world.]

I sighed, looking at the screen. I probably should have anticipated this, but I was blinded by the experience I would have gotten. Now, I was stuck inside, with no way to escape.

'Well, there's no time to waste.' I said while leaving the alleyway where I had left a nice present for the next people who entered it.

Now this wasn't too bad, at least for this floor. I had a theory on what happened, and where the beasts could be hiding. I chuckled. 'I wonder how many floors will i have to clear before it lets me out.'

I looked around, searching for anything suspicious, which turned out harder to do thanks to my apparently short stature compared to some. I not saying this body was short, but that the people here were giants. 'I wonder if I had to fight a giant, would I win?'

Also, I was getting lots of stares, probably because my attire wasn't normal. I stuck out like a sore thumb. And with this attention, it was harder for me to do my work.

"Excuse me? I thought you were really handsome... and I wonder if you are willing to come back to my place."

'Huh?' Oh I see, I know this trick. They compliment you and make you follow them. Their place doesn't exist, or at least it's not where they drag you. And after they charge you money. 'Oh, no I'm sorry bu-' 

Wait, this was perfect actually. It allinged perfectly with my idea, so why not test it out? It was risky, I could be wrong, and I don't really have money on me. I even had run from the shrimp guy, but he was one man, and this is a setup put up by a strong organization.

'If you don't risk you don't win.' I chuckled to myself.

'I would be more than honored to give you this request my lady, I shall follow you to the end and back.' I kneeled down, and kissed her hand, making a blush appear infect her face.

Thanks, Rune, I'll repay you one day for teaching me your ways of overcomplicating answers.

After that, she grabbed my hand and started dragging me with a happy smile on her face.

'Copy.' Time to gamble. [Pawn Of Despair] was a great ability, but alone it was more based on luck. Usually, I would have access to my other ability, which allows me to see others' profiles, so I could choose the ability I copy. But without it, it all depends on luck.

[Copying random skill...]

'You know... I haven't killed any human yet, only beasts. I have been a good guy so be good with me!'

[Copied skill. [Flammable silk] Would you like to see its description]

'Let me guess, it allows me to burn silk.' I said with a disappointed voice.

"Did you say something?" She glanced at me confused by my sudden words.

'No, you're hearing things.' I said with a serious face, very different from the cheerful face I had shown her before.

[Flammable Silk]- There was once a man who because of his lust, had fallen into the trap of a spider. Because of its sticky silk, he was unable to escape, he could only await his death. That was until a flame burst inside him. This skill allows you to burn silk easily.

'Wow, I did not expect that.' The thing was that it didn't do that, well at least not to that level. After all at this level [Pawn Of Despair] drawback is that the power of the skill is cut by half.

I really had to level it up, because as of now, it wasn't that great of an ability.

As I was focused on the ability I had copied, I didn't notice we had stopped and fell to the ground. Looking up, I saw a building, three stories tall, filled with decorations, and lights everywhere... and spider webs? I would expect a place like this to be clean, but I guess everyone makes mistakes. Unless.

...

A door slid open, and out of it a man walked out with only his underwear on, he looked like his body had been tried out. As he tried walking, he fell to the ground. Behind him, a beautiful girl stood. Her red hair was crimson like a river of blood. Her red eyes made her look like a beautiful demon. Her kimono held a fancy pattern.

She had an evil smile on her face. As the man fell, she approached him then from under her kimono, a long and hairy leg penetrated his body. This leg was just like one of a spider.

After killing the man, he carried him to a secluded room, where many other bodies resided, stuck inside a spider web. She threw alongside the others and climbed down on the web herself. It was time to feast.

'Do humans taste good? I never tried one when I was a beast.'

Hearing my voice, she trembled but quickly recovered. After all, to her, I was just another human who had accidentally found her hideout, someone that would soon turn into her food. Actually, this was amazing for her, more food meant more power.

But as she was laughing to herself, a bright light erupted from the darkness where I was sitting. This bright light ran across its webs, lighting them on fire.

[You have used skill [Flammable silk].]

She tried putting it out, but it was too fast even for her. She watched as her food reserve burned down, and turned to me with hatred burning inside her eyes, both figuratively and literally as the fire reflected on her eyes.

So did the fire not do any damage to anything other than the silk, or was her skin too tough for the fire? No matter, after all, that wasn't my plan. 

I sat there, as she started running toward me with great fury. She raised one of her legs from beneath the kimono and pointed it at my heart, but as she was about to pierce me, the ceiling broke crushing her.

[You have slain a pawn class beast, Spider Of Lust]

'Never liked spiders.'

...

After arriving at the building, I knew something was up, but I couldn't do anything with this girl following me. So I ran and decided to come back later.

The beast had to be there, but how would I kill it, I didn't have a combat ability, and the ability I copied definitely didn't help.

'Character profile.'

...

Name-Jacob Moon

Measurements- 170cm, 16 years old, 58kg.

Contracted beast- [Destiny]

Skills- [Kings Authority], [Pawn Of Despair]- copied ability [Flamable Silk].

Passives-[Son Of Cosmos], [King of the Forgotten Army].

Contract level- Contracted.

Beast level-God.

...

I summoned my profile, looking for something usable. But there wasn't anything here that would help me eliminate a beast. Damn it, couldn't I have had some better abilities.

But as I was criticizing my past self for not having some combat abilities, my eyes turned to an ability.

[Kings Authority]-A great king should make his enemies bow beneath him, and if it comes to it, his allies too. No one should look up at the great king, if they do, their bodies will be torn limb by limb. You can control gravity with your hand, but in return, gravity itself holds a grudge toward you.

I wasn't sure if it would work at level one, but it was worth a try.

...

I looked at the squished spider, a cocky smile appearing on my face as I scoffed. 'It did work.'

[Kings Authority] isn't limited to humans, it also works on animals and objects, so I had overloaded the floor above with heavy objects, and with my ability still connected to them, I had applied enough pressure for the floor to break right when the beast was under it.

[Eliminating copied ability due to the limited number of usages at this level.]

Right, I forgot, at level one you can only use the ability once. Now I have to wait five hours to be able to copy another one.

'Rest in peace, you were a great skill.'

As I was saying my goodbye, a screen appeared in front of my eyes, on it was a question I had awaited for some time.

[Would you like to ascend to the second floor?]