I hadn’t taken so much as a single step onto the metal catwalk when I received a notification.
Warning! Proximity to Hive Queen less than 100 meters!
Penalty Removed.
With a rush, my strength returned to me. I haven’t checked my notifications since before I killed Darren. I’ve probably leveled up. I weighed the pros and cons of leveling up at that moment. I want to get to Eris, but the extra strength can only help me. Well, my wits are telling me to level up. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.
I opened my notifications tab to read the bombardment of notifications.
Combat results
5 Killed: (Human) 7,500 Exp
4 Downed: 6000 Exp
Mercy Penalty: -2000 Exp
Total Exp Gain: 11,500 Exp
4900/4900
Level Up! (x2)
Level 51!
2600/5100
20 Stat Points Available!
New Ability Available!
New Class Abilities Unlocked!
The previous abilities caught my eye again. Hive Guard, in particular, tempted me as it had saved my life more than once. But it was nothing more than a health potion and recovery potion combined. Incredibly powerful, but I have access to both potions, so I’ll save that one for later. What also surprised me was the appearance of locked abilities. The new ones I unlocked appeared from a drop-down menu.
Second Tier List
Chitin Armor
Chitin Sword
Arachne’s Blessing (Locked)
Scorpius’s Blessing (Locked)
Mantearia’s Blessing (Locked)
Apocrita’s Blessing (Locked)
Hive Mind (Corrupted—Error!)
What the hell does that mean? Why is that ability corrupted? Does it have to do with the deal I made? I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on picking. I’d leave the newer ones alone for now. While Chitin Armor and Chitin Sword were tempting, I already had armor and a weapon and could hold off.
Chitin Shield
Aura of the Arachnid
They were the two that would benefit me the most right now. The aura seemed powerful, but I didn’t know precisely what it did or how it worked, so it made my choice clear. I selected Chitin Shield, and the ability unlocked in my interface.
I read over the description quickly. I could deploy and retract it at will, but the longer I had it out, and the more I used it, the higher my battle fatigue would rise.
With my Durability so low right now, I’ll have to use this sparingly and not rely on it too much. Both my main stats were maxed now, so I could focus on my sub-stats. It seemed Durability would be critical going forward, so I added ten to it, and ten to my Attack Damage. It ensured I could continue to take a beating and hit hard.
My stats were settled. I moved along, careful of my steps against the metal so that I wouldn’t alert anyone below. There were more men inside, working with boxes moving them around, but also large cages in which even more chained slaves resided. More dwarves and elves, even several rabbitmen as well.
So, these are the ones I saw in the memory. I wonder what clan they belong to? Their ears were the only way to differentiate them. I’ve never met enough of them to be able to tell the difference between the clans. Their ears twitched as I slunk along, and I knew they were aware of my presence, but they kept quiet and didn’t give me away.
It hurt to see so much misery in one place, but I couldn’t let it drag me down. I had a job to do, and I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Eris is here, and she comes before anyone else. So, I left the rabbits in their cages and moved on, passing by even more pens until I found a secluded section.
It was locked away tight as a vault from the ground, but I had easy access from the catwalk.
I peered down and scanned the cages for her. My heart swelled when I spotted her dark blonde hair. My relief boiled to rage as I took in the rest of the cage.
She was bound by heavy shackles, and even then, she still struggled to free herself. She railed against the chains, her face twisted in fury.
She wasn’t alone in the room. Darren’s goons from the alley were here, and so was Magnus.
I still couldn’t see his face; his wide-brimmed hat obscured it, but I did get a better look at his attire. His suit was of the latest fashion, and there wasn’t a spot on it—a slew of large jewel-encrusted rings brandished across his slender hands. And he had his gaudy ivory cane with him as well. He leaned on it while talking with the goons.
Their voices rose, enough that I could make out snippets of conversation. Money seemed to be the topic, and the thugs appeared to be upset about the lack of it.
I dropped to all fours and crawled forward as lightly as I could, trying to pick up more of what was said. As I crept closer, I got the gist of it. Magnus had a deal with Darren and wasn't paying up. Darren and his men had been promised a hefty sum for bringing him Eris, but with the death of Darren, Magnus didn’t want pay.
“My deal was with your superior, not with his underlings. Your boss was sloppy enough to let himself be killed. As such, a new deal must be negotiated.”
The flunkies were understandably upset at the turn of events. They wanted what he'd promised, and with the looks on their faces, they were going to get the gold by any means necessary.
One of the men, the large, brutish one with the dead eyes, pulled out his sword and waved it around. “We had a deal, little man, now pay up or get hurt!”
The brute kept thrusting his sword randomly in the air
