It is hard to gauge just how big the cavern is because of the creature sitting in the middle of it. At first my brain refuses to admit that what I am looking at is actually alive. It is just too massive, it looks like a small mountain, at least until it moves.

It is hideously ugly, even for a spider, its huge bloated body is pure white. To me it looks like a hairless tarantula, one that is the size of a cargo ship. It is so big that all the spiders scurrying around it look like nothing more than ants.

It is Myria who notices and points out the oddest thing about the spider. In the center of its huge spider head there is a human sized torso and head. Compared to the rest of the body the human looking portion is about the size of a pimple.

However, one look is enough to convince me that the human head is the control center for the whole thing. That human head is constantly looking around and it seems to be issuing orders to all the other spiders. As we watch a large group of warrior spiders is gathering under the gaze of the human head.

Even before they start moving our way I have already guessed what is going on. Us wiping out the drider guards has been noticed and this is the response force. I am guessing that there will be a second force gathering out in the tunnels to attack us from behind.

However, what interests me the most are the eggs being laid by the spider body. It reminds me of the scene from Aliens and I am glad I am not seeing it from closer. What is interesting to me is worker spiders take the eggs and carry them out of the cavern through another tunnel.

"Myria, you aren't going to like this, but I am going to do something crazy."

Myria says "So, what else is new?"

"I want you to head back, take the kids, and fight your way back to the defensive wall."

Myria says "And what are you going to do?"

"See those spiders carrying the eggs? I am going to sneak after them and destroy all the eggs."

Myria says "Even for you that is insane! Why would you take such a risk?!"

"Something Krenocia said, younger creatures have more life force. In that case, eggs should be just balls of life force!"

Myria says "All that risk, just to keep your modifications? Is it really worth it?"

"I can't be sure, but I think so, yes. Getting my magic back would make me much stronger."

Myria says "Strong enough to make up for the shorter time?"

"If I go drain a bunch of eggs I might gain more time than I have lost."

Myria says "I can tell from the look on your face that arguing is pointless. Just come back alive, alright?"

"I will do my best. Now get yourself and the kids out of here before they launch a pincer attack."

It is obvious from the look on Myria's face that she is unwilling, but she finally turns and leaves. As soon as she is gone I turn my attention back to the cavern, plotting my route to the egg tunnel. My hope is that if I move fast enough the spiders won't be able to react in time.

Of course, I am choosing a path that will keep me as far away from the controller as possible. I have no idea what abilities she may have, but even from here I can feel immense danger from her. If I get too close she can probably kill me with the flick of one of her legs.

To try and avoid being spotted I am going to avoid flying, I am not going to fly into the spider's den. There are massive webs hanging from the ceiling all over the cavern, so flying would be risky anyway. Once I have decided on my route and double checked the locations of the spiders I start moving.

Once I leave the tunnel I quickly drop down the wall into the cavern in a couple of jumps. Because of the spider's sheer size I have underestimated the size of the cavern. Regardless, as soon as I hit the floor of the cavern I take off running as quickly as I can.

Following my planned path, I do my best to keep rocks and foliage between me and the spiders. It doesn't work for long, about the time I have covered a quarter of the distance the spiders react. That is when I notice a new type of spider, I was too far away before to notice them.

They are forming a ring around the controller, they are similar to driders but more beastial. They do not have the human heads, but they do have upright bodies like a drider. They have six legs for movement and the final pair are blades, like a praying mantis.

While the other spiders are reacting to my presence, these guards don't move at all. Each of them gives off a faint feeling of danger, nothing like the controller, but still enough to notice. Then all thoughts of the other spiders vanish as the controller turns her attention my way.

When her human head turns my way I feel an imminent sense of danger. Trusting my instincts I instantly jump to the side, at the same moment that I jump there is an explosion. The rock floor I was just standing on explodes sending fragments flying.

As I am pelted by the shards of rock I find myself in shock, and fairly confused. Despite sensing the danger, I have no idea how the controller attacked me. As far as I can tell there was no spell cast and I didn't see anything come at me.

Before I even have time to think about it my senses start screaming at me again. I throw myself into a forward roll as the path behind me explodes violently. It is almost as if her gaze is causing the explosions, like she just has to will things to explode.

There is no chance for me to stop and catch my breath, the explosions keep coming. There are about five seconds between each explosion and no warning other than my instincts. All I can do is scramble forward and dodge each time my instincts warn me to.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Danger Sense has progressed to level 6!

Danger Sense

Level 6

Wis +6

A feeling that warns you of great danger.

The fact that the skill went up after so long sends chills down my spine. For the skill to increase it probably means that the controller's attacks are capable of killing me in one shot. Considering how many attacks I am having to dodge, my odds are not looking good.

What worries me the most is that as time passes the explosions are getting closer and closer. It seems that the controller hasn't used this skill much but now that she is getting practice her aim is improving. So now it is a race, can I run to the tunnel first, or will her aim improve first.

As I continue towards the tunnel I start zig-zagging as I run to try and prevent the controller from hitting me. It slows me down, but getting hit by the controller would end my run completely. The explosions continue, but they stop getting closer giving me reason to hope.