Master Of None

Chapter 70 - 70. Kill Or Keep

The party formed up just in case any other corpse spider remained alive or came after the commotion. However, after waiting for a long time the remaining flames died out leaving only silence. They finally were able to catch their breath and relax slightly.

"I didn't expect the flames to consume the thread as well, I know they're made using the fluids of rotting zombies but it was unexpected. If we run in to more we will have to stay farther from them." Walker knew they were lucky to survive this unharmed and the only reason was the low number of enemies. If they had encountered a large nest they certainly would have died.

Su had regained her breath and looked at walker "it's definitely dangerous fighting these spiders. Every time their fangs hit my shield I felt it ring through my body. Their bodies were weak without that armor but their attack was almost too much." She was pale having used a lot of energy blocking the spider blindly in the flames.

"We will rest here a while so don't worry too much. If you can't sit still take a look around, but don't push yourself." Walker's face showed worry but knew Su was wise enough to take time to breathe.

Seeing as Gil had made his way to the remnants of the nest midnight and walker went to examine as well. "You don't suppose those white round things are important do you?" Gils' question was mirrored by him pointing at a cluster of ten softball sized white orbs. They were completely smooth and perfectly round.

"All around appraisal!" Walker knew he didn't have to say every skill out loud but knew this served as an answer or proper communication of what he was doing.

'Corpse spider egg.

Skeletal spiders often give birth to ten eggs at a time. In their lifespan, they can produce one hundred young. The eggs take up to one year to develop before hatching. The young spiders will immediately burrow in to bits of flesh their parents have provided to create small armors. Once they have done so they will hunt small insects to assist their growth until they properly developed poison and thread.'

Walker was puzzled, these eggs were spared from the flame like the corpse spiders true bodies were. But since they would need zombie flesh to make armors did that mean they would die if they hatched? "These are corpse spider eggs. They were probably wrapped in zombie flesh until I burned it away."

Gil pulled out an arrow and stood holding it like a dagger "we should probably kill them. I'm not sure what they can do but if they hatch it won't be good for us." Gil began to stab downward.

"Wait wait, let's keep them. I can store them away so they won't hatch I also have the zombie flesh for when they hatch." Walker had an idea.

"No no no no no no no!! You are not getting your own personal army of gross spiders as pets I don't care if they are the most powerful tamed beasts ever!!!" Remey overheard walker and Gil. She rushed over yelling at walker her face red but also showed hints of fear.

"Wait Remey listen I have an idea, we can't easily provide and keep all these spiders right?" Walker first talked Remey down. "But we got a coupon from that quest for the merchants' auction. If we take these eggs and the hard to sell zombie flesh wouldn't tamers pay plenty of gold? Not to mention these spiders can't be common to come across." Walker's idea was simple, sell one egg paired with some bones and some zombie flesh as a package. A tamer could purchase it from the auction and in turn gain a unique poison type tamed beast. This way they wouldn't kill a defenseless monster and they could get rid of bones and zombie flesh that they had too much of. They also could use their earnings to purchase something at the auction themselves.

Su had come over at the commotion Remey was making and studied the eggs carefully, "I agree I do not wish to be part of harming defenseless babies even if they are skin crawling monsters. Would you smash the abyssal serpent egg because you didn't like snakes?" Her questioned made Remey look down. She was moping because Su made a good point making her feel bad.

Crossing her arms she replied " fine store them away don't let them hatch! If I see one baby spider I'll beat you to a pulp!" She glared at walker making the point that he was not allowed to contract it very clear.

Walker took the time to store the eggs along with the remains of the four spiders. Walker noticed all the bones hadn't burned off of the skeletal spider and took a closer look. It seemed the bones had started to fuse with the spider itself. Walker wondered if this meant that these spiders could over time grow in to their armor and it wouldn't be effected by evil consuming flames.

The party knew that the longer they rested the longer they were trapped but they had no idea how much time was passing. They decided to rest until they had felt prepared. They rationed the food and water because they did it know how long it would take to find an exit. While they rested walker noticed that even though the light wasn't bright it did still nourish the abyssal serpent egg which he'd taken from his inventory to check up on. He was slowly becoming a doting father.

After an unknown amount of time Su had gained more color to her face so she had decided it was time to leave the room. The route they traveled was much wider than the previous hallway. They could all stand side by side in this one, it also had supporting arches cares in worn stone. Gil noticed that there were paths up ahead branching off.

"I'm going to scout the left path first. I'll be back in a few minutes." He quietly started sneaking down the smaller left hallway.