Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 27 - 16: Hardcore Training 2
The spider screeched in pain as Aurianna tightly grasped its leg and sank her teeth into its flesh, breaking through the skin. As the venom coursed into her stomach, a warm sensation enveloped her entire body. Her heart pounded fiercely as blood surged through her veins. Despite coughing up blood and bleeding from her eyes, she pressed on undeterred.
Seizing a nearby stick, she thrust it forcefully into the spider’s rear, causing it to screech in agony.
Aurianna coughed up more blood as a larger spider delivered a forceful kick, sending her sprawling, while another sank its fangs deep into her abdomen. Despite the excruciating pain, Aurianna maintained a defiant smile as the spider poised to consume her, defiantly raising her hand.
"Icicle!!" Aurianna’s cry pierced the air as a long, pointed shard of ice impaled the monstrous spider, bringing about its demise.
[ You’ve vanquished a level 3 Hex spider ]
[ You’ve earned 25 experience points ]
[ Sub Quest: Kill Hex Spiders ]
[ | Reward: Hex Spider skill, 2-4 quest points per spider | ]
Although a notification appeared, Aurianna’s mind was consumed by the searing agony coursing through her torn abdomen, where her insides spilled out.
The remaining creatures grew infuriated, their legs pounding against the trees while emitting shrill cries. With a collective determination in their eyes, they lunged towards Aurianna, spewing webs from their mouths.
Forcing herself to ignore the pain, Aurianna forcefully pulled the spider’s leg from her stomach, narrowly evading some of the incoming webs. As she rose to her feet to confront the other spiders, two more assailants swiftly attacked. One delivered a powerful blow to her side, while the other rammed its head against hers. Overwhelmed by the wave of dizziness that washed over her, she succumbed to unconsciousness.
When Aurianna regained consciousness, a nightmarish scene unfolded before her. She found herself surrounded by a swarm of small spiders, their multitude crawling ceaselessly in every direction. Even larger spiders, once fearful, now approached her without hesitation. "Oh, shit!" Within seconds, her movements were constrained by the sticky embrace of spider webs, while the spiders closed in, their ravenous appetites unleashed.
Aurianna struggled desperately, attempting to break free, but her efforts proved futile as the spiders sank their fangs into her, biting and tearing at her flesh. They devoured her relentlessly, peeling away layers of skin as her screams reverberated through the air. The monstrous creatures feasted upon her until nothing remained, her existence consumed by the darkness of the forest.
[ You were devoured by a Hex Spider. ]
Aurianna groaned as she struggled to open her eyes, her body aching all over. Her vision was blurry as she fought to regain consciousness. As her senses gradually returned, she found herself sitting behind a tree. Slowly, she rose to her feet and took in her surroundings. The spiders that had attacked her before still lingered nearby, their menacing presence a constant reminder of the danger she faced. Peering out from behind the tree, she noticed that her physical form was no longer present at the former place, only the remnants of the brutal encounter staining the ground.
"How am I still alive?" Aurianna wondered, her mind racing with questions. "Could it be the revival skill I possess? How did I even acquire such an ability? Or perhaps this is what Eva meant by saying she could revive me anytimeI must admit, I’m quite fortunate."
Fury burned within Aurianna as she clenched her teeth, "Those monsters won’t get away with this. I swear, I’m going to make them pay," she vowed, her voice filled with resolve.
"I Iearned ice magic in my past life, but it wasn’t really an element that suited me. The light element rather suited me. But I’ll have to make use of this now." She focused her energy, conjuring five sharp icicles in her hand. The chilling power surged through her as she prepared to retaliate.
"Now then," Aurianna whispered with an evil grin, her eyes glinting with vengeful intent. "If I recall correctly, a spider’s weakness lies within its butthole. It’s time for some well-deserved payback."
Without hesitation and with swift precision, Aurianna launched the icy projectiles straight into the exposed rear ends of the spiders, piercing their vulnerable spots deeply. The air resonated with agonized screeches as five of the spiders met their demise, collapsing lifelessly. The remaining spiders turned their attention towards Aurianna who was hiding behind the tree, their hunger-fueled rage propelling them forward.
Aurianna swiftly abandoned her position and maneuvered through the swarm of spiders, determination etched across her face. With twenty icicles floating in hand, she braced herself for a swift and decisive end to this confrontation. "Only 42 spiders left. I’ll finish them off as quickly as possible," she muttered, her voice filled with resolute purpose.
Taking advantage of her smaller size, Aurianna managed to skillfully position herself behind several imposing hex spiders that towered over her. Seizing the opportune moment, she ruthlessly thrust her icy weapons into their vulnerable butt regions, exploiting their weaknesses ruthlessly without hesitation.
Caught up in the heat of battle, Aurianna failed to notice the maniacal grin that had crept onto her face. She pressed on, relentlessly slaughtering the spiders with a relentless frenzy. Despite enduring countless slashes and venomous attacks that could have proven fatal, she found her revived near the spot of her death each time, ready to resume her killing spree.
"Despite my lack of combat skills, my senses are sharpening, and my reflexes are growing faster," Aurianna remarked, her voice tinged with both exhaustion and exhilaration. "What’s more these spiders are growing more predictable," Demonstrating her newfound proficiency, she skillfully aimed an icicle at a spider’s eye, before swiftly darting behind it to administer a fatal blow to its butt hole. Green liquid spilled out as the creature collapsed lifelessly on the ground.
Overwhelmed by the intensity of her exertions, Aurianna sank to the ground, clutching her head as her trembling body struggled to regain composure. The strain of the relentless battle weighed heavily upon her, but she refused to succumb to exhaustion.
Ding!
[ You’ve earned 2,100 experience points for eliminating 42 level 4 Hex Weavers. ]
[ Congratulations! You have ascended 2 levels. ]
[ As a bonus for defeating monsters without possessing a class, you’ve acquired 70 skill points. ]
[ You’ve gained Hex Spider skill {Mind Shatter}. If skill is activated, target has visions of death causing loss of focus. ]
[ Congrats on killing a monster on your own. ]
"What’s that?" Aurianna wondered, her gaze fixed on the intriguing display hovering above her. With a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, she reached out her hand, tentatively attempting to touch the smooth glass-like screen.
"What the hell is this?"Aurianna pondered, a sense of bewilderment filling her. Rising to her feet, she settled into a relaxed butterfly position, ready to delve further into the unfolding situation.
Suddenly, a new screen materialized before her, capturing her attention. With curiosity piqued, she read the displayed words intently.
[ Nice to meet you, Aurianna. I am the system overseeing the management of all second-generation Diamonds. ] a distorted voice resonated, reaching Aurianna’s ears.
[ Congratulations on your accomplishment of mastering independent combat. ] the voice continued.
Aurianna’s brows furrowed as she contemplated the next revelation. [ Seems like you’re having some difficulty with your magic. Are you willing to invest your skill points to acquire a new skill? ] the screen inquired.
"System? It looks more like the stone tablets and cubes used to check a person’s stats. Strangely I can also see it without my Saintess class. But the tablet never spoke. What is this, certainly unusual screen?" Aurianna wondered as she brushed her hand past the white screen, which suddenly felt like air.
"I really need to ask Eva about this Diamond thing," Aurianna muttered, as she was more interested in knowing what Diamonds are than "leveling up" or whatever.
"I can’t just stand here! I better hide," Aurianna muttered before entering the tree trunk from before. Strangely, it was broad and comfy.
"Hmm, but a skill... Don’t I have to learn skills?" Aurianna asked as she looked at the screen.
[ Yes, you do, but this is a little cheat. ]
"Ah, let’s take a closer look at these skills then," Aurianna spoke with a sense of anticipation, prompting the screen to transition into a new display.
[{Combat Skill categories}]
[|Staffs, Guns, Knuckles, Swords, Feet, Eyes, Crystal balls, Arrows, Beads, Spears, Shields, Lotus, Whips, Daggers, Paint Brushes, Axes|]
[You can select one of these categories to get a weapon and a type of combat skill to use.]
A list of combat skill categories materialized, each with its own distinct weapon and combat skill associated with it. Aurianna’s eyes scanned the options before her, deep in thought.
"Hmm, choices, choices," she mused, tapping her chin as she weighed the possibilities. This was an opportunity to shape her combat style, and she wanted to make a well-informed decision that resonated with her instincts and preferences.
"What’s this Gun thing?" Aurianna wondered as she tapped the option on the screen. Before her appeared a screen with three different kinds of guns.
[ System has realized that you’re not someone fit for hand to hand combat, so the system has presented you with 3 basic flying magical Guns skills. ]
[ | Death Magic, Gunner’s Despair: 20 pt { A remarkable ability where ten rows of shot guns that encircle the enemy, unleashing a barrage of up to 20 bullets within a span of two minutes. An upgrade option was available for those seeking even deadlier results. } <Upgrade available> | ]
[ | Sniper Shot: 25 pt { This skill grants you a sniper gun and the power to take down anything within a two-meter radius with a single, well-aimed shot to the head. The upgrade option promised to further enhance your precision. } <Upgrade available>| ]
[ | Guncicles: 30 pt { An intriguing skill that summoned five rows of rifles around an adversary, unleashing a volley of five long icicles upon them. The upgrade option held the potential to make this frosty assault even more formidable. } <Upgrade available> | ]
[ ...Higher level skills would be available in the future. ]
As Aurianna contemplated her options, a question echoed in her mind, "Which one should I choose?" However she couldn’t help but recall Eva’s wise words that echoed in her mind, about the importance of preserving her points and not squandering them needlessly.
A mischievous smirk graced Aurianna’s face as she declared, "Why settle for just one when I can have them all?" With confidence and a hint of self-praise, she justified her decision, "Eva won’t mind. It’s a brilliant investment, if I say so myself. Besides there’s no way I could turn down something as cool sounding as a gun skill?" Excitedly, Aurianna tapped on each skill, eager to claim them all.
[ You have used 55 skill points, 15 skill points left. ]
[ Congratulations you have received Gunner’s Despair, Sniper Shot, and Guncicles. ]
[ You have gotten the Class: Gunner Mage ]
[ A Gunner Mage is a versatile class that combines the use of magic and non-magic arsenal for combat. ]
As the information unfolded, Aurianna’s profile took shape, revealing her details:
[ Aurianna ]
Age: 21 ( Physically younger due to time manipulation but retains the same age. )
Class: Gunner Mage
Race: Diamonds
Level: 4
Exp: 700 / 2,300
HP: 50 / 50
Magic power: 150/150
Stamina: 12/12
STR: 5
VIT: 6
INT: 28
Agility: 5
Defense: 7
Charm: 172
Luck: 22
Skill points: 15
Quest points: 158
Skills: Ice magic level 6, Healing magic level 20, Revival <3>, Mind Shatter <1>, Death Magic Gunner’s Despair <1>, Sniper shot <1>, Guncicles <1>]
With a renewed sense of vitality, Aurianna emerged from the confines of the tree trunk, feeling the difference in her body. She couldn’t help but exclaim, "Ohh, my stats have increased, and I feel so much lighter!"
"Well, aren’t I a clever one?" she exclaimed, reveling in her enhanced abilities. Brimming with confidence, she declared, "Now, I ain’t scared of you ugly spiders!"
Before she could dash towards a smaller spider she spotted, her excitement quickly turned into a rude awakening. In a cruel twist of fate, she found herself on the receiving end of danger. Her head was ensnared within the menacing jaws of a monstrous creature. The next moment, she jolted awake, disoriented, finding herself in a different part of the mysterious forest.
"What the hell was that? I could barely react!" Aurianna muttered, trembling with the after effects of the terrifying encounter. She turned away, feeling a wave of nausea overwhelming her, prompting her to turn away and vomit. Despite having experienced gruesome deaths before, the overwhelming sensation of weakness washed over her. Gritting her teeth, she clenched the grass beneath her hands and forced herself to get back on her feet, despite her trembling legs.
Casting a wary glance around, Aurianna scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Hex Weaver that had ended her life moments ago. And there it was, right in front of her. To her astonishment, ahe had respawned at the very same location!
Unlike the smaller spiders she had encountered earlier, the Hex Weaver was collosal and had an intimidating presence, towering over 30 meters in size. Its formidable body dwarfed the others, adorned with countless eyes scattered across its form. As it gracefully maneuvered through the trees, its eight legs left behind delicate imprints, marking its ominous passage through the forest.
Aurianna’s throat tightened as she envisioned the Hex Weaver’s sharp appendages piercing her vulnerable form. Her gaze remained fixated on the creature, and in a chilling moment, all of the eyes adorning the Hex Weaver’s body shifted in her direction. Fear gripped her, causing her trembling to intensify. She desperately attempted to flee, but to her dismay, her body refused to obey her command.
"Why am I not moving?!" Aurianna screamed in frustration, her voice laced with a mix of anger and helplessness. The Hex Weaver, slowly closing in on her, seemed unaffected by her futile struggle.
[ Hex Weaver has attacked you with the skill {curse of Weakness}. Looking at the eyes of the Hex Spider would render your entire body weak. ]
"You certainly play dirty, you stupid spider," Aurianna spat defiantly, mustering a grin despite her trepidation. She maintained her gaze upon the Hex Weaver before her, refusing to succumb entirely to fear.
To her astonishment, the Hex Weaver responded, its deep male voice cutting through the tension. "I wonder what an insignificant human is doing here in the domain prison," it uttered, accompanied by an evil grin.
A mixture of shock and disbelief coursed through Aurianna’s veins. "You... a mon...ster... how the hell can you speak?" she stuttered, the revelation of a speaking monster left her astounded, struggling to process the reality unfolding before her.
The creature locked eyes with her, silently staring for a few lingering seconds, before finally responding, "Hmmm, you are indeed interesting."
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through Aurianna’s mind. ’Monsters in my world can’t speak. And what does he mean by ’domain prison’?’ she wondered, her eyes fixed on the enigmatic Hex Weaver.
"Of course, not every monster possesses the ability to speak," the Hex Weaver replied, amusement lacing its tone. It further intrigued by her reaction, posed a question, "Have you tried checking my level?"
As Aurianna attempted to check the Hex Weaver’s level, a sudden alert in red flashed across her screen, [ Run away! Opponent is too powerful!! ] The system’s nervous voice echoed in her ears, causing her to slump onto the ground, though her gaze remained fixed on the Hex Weaver.
"How is this even possible?" Aurianna questioned, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and confusion.
The Hex Weaver met her gaze, a self-assured smirk dancing upon its face. "I simply exist on a whole different level than you," it replied, oozing with confidence.
Perplexed by the Hex Weaver’s behavior, Aurianna couldn’t help but voice her confusion. "If you’re so powerful, why haven’t you killed me yet?" Her understanding of monsters led her to believe that their sole purpose was to seek bloodshed, lacking any semblance of intelligence.
The Hex Weaver’s grin widened as it responded, "Because I am intrigued by the possibility of forging a contract with you."
Aurianna’s nerves heightened, and she stammered, "W-Why would a powerful monster like you want a contract with me?"
Amusement flickered in the Hex Weaver’s eyes as it replied, "Did Eva provide you with that battle suit, by any chance?"
Taken aback by the unexpected mention of Eva, Aurianna cautiously responded, "Y-Yes, I do know Eva. How... How do you know her?"
A surge of uncertainty filled Aurianna, acutely aware that her response carried weighty consequences. Giving the wrong answer might provoke the Hex Weaver, potentially leading to her untimely demise—an outcome she certainly wished to avoid.
"I do, but that’s not the point now. If you have the battle suit, she would later come for you. And for Eva to stoop so low to train someone means you’re special," the Hex Weaver stated, extending its legs towards Aurianna’s chest.
Aurianna eyed the gigantic spider with doubt, feeling a lack of trust towards its proposition. "I’ve been trapped here for countless millennia, yearning for escape. Moreover, I possess the means to assist you," the Hex Weaver added eagerly, blinking its numerous eyes.
Aurianna maintained her skepticism and replied, "I don’t trust you." She regarded the Hex Weaver with a dubious expression.
"Nevertheless, you should give it a try. The contract is designed to benefit you," the Hex Weaver declared, settling down. "If you were to die, I would die too. And I would be compelled to obey your commands without harming you. Furthermore, I see you can revive despite me clearly killed you. But when I tried to eat your soul, it was impossible," the Hex Weaver tilted its head.
Aurianna trembled hearing his words and repeated, "Eat my soul?"
The Hex Weaver tilted its head, acknowledging her observations. "Indeed, if I devour your soul, you would be unable to revive. Strangely, my attempts were futile. However, that is not the crux of the matter. I am awaiting your decision regarding the contract," the Hex Weaver dismissed nonchalantly, waving its lengthy leg.
Aurianna shuddered at the notion of her soul being devoured, her unease palpable. She cautiously inquired, "And if I were to refuse the contract?"
"I’ll kill you every time you refuse," The Hex Weaver proclaimed, his voice deepening and sending shivers down Aurianna’s spine. He continued, "And once you become my master, I’ll permit you to hunt as many of my offspring as you desire. They’ve been causing quite a nuisance by devouring all the food in the forest."
Aurianna’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Having a powerful monster as my pet? That sounds cool," she remarked with a smile.
Eager to proceed, she asked, "So how do we make this contract?"
"Just raise your hand," the Hex Weaver instructed.
[ Do you accept Hex Spider as your contract companion? ]
"Yes," Aurianna said.
[ Unable to accept Hex Spider as your companion due to your level being low. ]
A sense of disappointment washed over Aurianna as she looked at the Hex Spider. "The contract..."
The Hex Weaver reassured her, "I’m a reasonable being. A few hundred thousand years is no biggie for me. I can wait. Perhaps when you reach level 500, you’ll be able to form a contract with me. I look forward to that day." With those words, the Hex Weaver got up and began to walk away.
Feeling a mix of frustration and curiosity, Aurianna couldn’t help but shout after the departing Hex Spider, "What if I never come back?"
The Hex Weaver turned its head and replied, "I am a spider capable of manipulating people’s mental states and reading their intentions. The excitement in your eyes gives you away. I have a feeling you’ll be back." With that cryptic response, the Hex Weaver disappeared into the forest.
"Now then, I shall be on my way. Oh! Also, be prepared," the Hex Weaver warned before vanishing into the forest, leaving behind deep marks in the ground.
Aurianna, perplexed by the Hex Weaver’s words, asked, "Why should I be prepared?"
"Because all my children will come here to kill you. I need a strong master quickly," the Hex Weaver responded, emphasizing the urgency.
As the Hex Weaver walked away, thoughts raced through his mind. ’For Eva to bestow a blessing upon a human... I wonder who this child is,’ it pondered, disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Suddenly, a loud cry echoed through the forest, and Aurianna’s excitement surged. Before her stood hundreds of eyes, all fixated on her.
"Death Magic, Gunner’s Despair!" Summoning her powers, Aurianna unleashed her new Death Magic. Ten rows of guns materialized before her, ready to fire upon the approaching Hex Weaver. However, to her surprise, the gunshots fell short, only reaching a few centimeters before dropping to the ground. Confusion filled Aurianna’s face as she tried to comprehend what had just happened, but before she could react further, her head was bitten off once again.
"What the...?" Aurianna exclaimed in frustration.
A system message appeared, reminding her of an important fact. [ In order to use the gun, you must learn about all its components and know how to use it. The system will now transfer every information about guns to you. ]
Aurianna woke up in a small, empty cave, only to be greeted by an intense ache throbbing in her head. She winced and instinctively clutched her head in pain, attempting to alleviate the discomfort. Visions of herself wielding various guns and comprehending the intricacies of their parts flooded her mind, she was shown the intricacies of various guns, their parts, and their usage until she had a comprehensive understanding of how to wield them.
Seated in a butterfly position within the cave, Aurianna summoned her shotgun in her hands. She carefully held it, placing her right finger on the trigger and supporting it with her other hand on the foregrip. Despite her excitement, she couldn’t help but notice the weight of the weapon.
As she rose to her feet, faint smile graced Aurianna’s lips as she contemplated her achievement, ’I can finally hold it. But it’s quite heavy.’
She took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly trying focus her mind. She recalled the instructions she had been taught, visualizing an image of a person infusing mana into the gun. Her hand emitted a white glow, which was quickly absorbed by the firearm.
With determination in her eyes, Aurianna turned her attention to a nearby rock, a few meters away. She pressed the trigger, and a deafening BAM! erupted from the shotgun. The force of the recoil pushed her back a few centimeters, causing her to cough up blood. Overwhelmed by the impact, she instinctively released her grip on the shotgun, watching it clatter to the ground. Her hands trembling from the powerful impact.
"Aaarrrghhhh!!!!!" Aurianna cried out in pain, her expression filled with discomfort as she settled down and glanced at her trembling hands, then shifted her attention to the shotgun in her grasp.
"Well, this is turning out to be a real challenge," Aurianna chuckled lightly, mustering a hint of amusement. She rose to her feet, gripping the shotgun tightly, and began practicing her shooting skills repeatedly.
"Despite the loud noise, there doesn’t seem to be any spiders around. Could it be because of these webs?" Aurianna pondered, her realization dawning as she surveyed the area, now noticing the abundance of spider webs.
Using the webs to her advantage, Aurianna continued her shooting practice in that location, aiming mainly at rocks and trees while carefully avoiding the webs.
[ You have diligently practiced using the shotgun 236 times over a span of 5 weeks. As a result, you have acquired a new skill: {Smooth Trigger Pull}. This skill enhances your ability to handle any gun with ease and enables you to shoot rapidly. ]
"So cool! All the effort I put into this has paid off!!!" Aurianna cheered exuberantly, her excitement evident as she leaped around and materialized her shotgun once more.
"It’s pretty convenient that I don’t feel hungry and have no need for restroom breaks."
"Now then, it’s time to go spider hunting," Aurianna declared with a grin, expertly twirling her shotgun and resting it on her shoulders.
"Damn, I sound so cool saying that. Hehehe," Aurianna giggled, relishing in the playfulness of her own words.
Armed with a stout stick, Aurianna skillfully maneuvered it, causing the surrounding webs to tremble. Unbeknownst to her, a wicked grin adorned her face as anticipation swelled within her. Suddenly, a figure sliced through the veils of webs, unveiling a menacing swarm of spiders fixated on Aurianna.
"Come at me, you big booty spiders!" Aurianna taunted with a mischievous grin, sprinting headlong towards the approaching swarm. Without hesitation, she brandished her shotgun, dispatching the spiders witha barrage of swift on their butts with precise shots, ensuring their immediate death.
