Asura Field

Someone might find this tragic. Especially the three excited siblings who thought they were getting a new stepdad—they'd be heartbroken. But I'm not asking the centipede queen out on a date. Nor do I have any intention of becoming her new husband!

Of course not. I'm a snake, and she's a centipede. Different species entirely.

It's true she's got a gentle personality, a kind heart, and that mature charm with a strong backbone at times. She's incredibly powerful, too. But honestly... her looks aren't my type. I prefer slender limbs, smooth skin. Sure, her limbs are slender relative to her body, and her carapace is smooth enough even if it's not skin. ...But no poison claws or antennae. That's a dealbreaker.

This is a recruitment pitch. An offer to the enemy general, the Great Centipede Queen: bring your minions and join the zoo crew.

If this works, the board flips. True Three Kingdoms division achieved. Our Shu—er, our crew—will stand equal with the others.

—Still no answer?

Unfortunately, no immediate result on whether the taming succeeded or failed. The centipede queen just twitched her antennae, frozen in place. She seemed deep in thought. For some reason, my insides were burning with impatience. Why won't you answer?

She glanced around warily, antennae flicking. Pellelian warned me.

—Spider!

Damn it. I'd clearly checked—no spiders around. Where the hell did it come from? Turns out, it was crawling out from the very tunnel I'd used to arrive. Countless black, BB-pellet-sized spiders swarming out.

The centipede queen growled.

“Kyaat!”

Damn those script-ruining spiders—rage boiled up. I hadn't even considered failure! Guess it was unfounded confidence.

But things didn't get awkward between me and the queen. She stepped forward protectively. Not scared of those puny spiders, clearly.

Ssssk.

The spiders clustered together. Like magic, the swarm merged into one massive spider. Demon Face Tarantula. The ominous one I'd spotted from afar. Probably the queen's rival.

The queen twitched her antennae threateningly. This spider showing up suddenly meant...

“An interesting... plan... you've devised, snake.”

The lips on its abdomen writhed. Crap, it heard everything.

“As expected... of a leader.”

Stuttering, but gentlemanly tone. Didn't this spider know polite speech made it sound more villainous?

Fine, plan's busted—kill the spider here. If I can't, bolt. I coiled slightly. The queen seemed ready to take it down too.

Her bugs under her command slowly gathered. The enemy did the same. The tunnel must connect elsewhere—spiders poured out madly.

Tension thick as a powder keg. As I pondered its heart's location for Predator's Leap,

“A misunderstanding. I have no intention... of harming you.”

The face on its belly smirked slyly.

“Excellent idea, isn't it? We're not on good terms anyway, right?”

“Kkehk.”

The queen nodded. I edged forward.

What, so you'll just look the other way?

“Precisely.”

Surprisingly chatty. 0.9 Nanaruk vibes. But 1.2 silver chimp on the sleaze scale.

—Suspicious as hell, right?

Who wouldn't know? Just curious about its motives.

So I asked straight up.

Why? Bad blood means you ignore your ally's betrayal?

“Ally?”

The spider's eyes widened. Ah, so not allies.

“Betrayal?”

Nor betrayal.

“Neither. We're a swarm. I don't need those centipedes or bugs.”

Makes sense. From its view, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the queen's a thorn stealing shared XP from Riok. Plus, spiders and centipedes hating each other seems common knowledge here.

“So leave on your own. Best for everyone.”

But Riok won't like that.

“The swamp monster, eh.”

No respect or fondness mentioning its boss. Easy to read with that face. I mentioned Riok to probe—how smart is it? Does it protect minions? Any possessiveness?

“Correct. It'll rage.”

Bad news. If it didn't care, snagging the queen would've been easy.

“So, a deal. For you, snake.”

The spider raised a foreleg slyly.

“I'll look away. Take the centipede. But...”

But?

“Not now. A fight's coming. Swamp monster vs. silver monkey. Take her after. I'll allow it.”

Its proposal: Ignore recruiting the queen if I wait till Riok and monkey clash. Seemed fair at first glance. I raised my tail ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to signal consideration, then huddled with Pellelian by the queen.

—No downside hearing it out.

'Disappointing.'

—What?

'You don't know negotiation basics.'

Pellelian looked offended.

—Explain.

'Go in soft, and talks fail.'

Lesson from my past life. Never show weakness in deals.

'Spider.'

The spider faced me.

'That's not enough.'

“What do you mean?”

'Deals go both ways. This is extortion. Show up demanding I follow your script?'

“Extortion... what's that?”

'Riok raging? Not your problem. Real trades exchange value.'

Spider looked puzzled. Polite talk, low IQ confirmed—confused by my wordplay.

'Our counter: Pull back with the queen peacefully, hit the monkeys first.'

“Then? After monkeys die?”

'Handle it yourself.'

“Reasonable...”

'You gotta pay up too. Something material... Me, personally...'

Casually tossed out:

'Got an inner core to spare?'

“...How'd you know?”

What.

“About making the inner core...”

It eyed me warily. How'd I know? Easy.

Artisan trait. Just like the centipede couple had. And aren't human-faced spiders canon inner core holders in wuxia?

Spider pondered, twitching a foreleg.

“Fine. Wait a moment.”

It turned; tiny spiders swarmed its body, hiding something. They dispersed, revealing a pitch-black orb.

—Oho! Demonic essence off the charts—real inner core. Eaten two already; I know it.

'I'll take it.'

“Keep your promise.”

I glanced at the queen once more.

'See you soon.'

“Kkehk.”

Her shy vibe? Nah, imagination. Spiders infest my entry tunnel now. Ground route impossible too. Last glare at spider—it seemed expectant of me entering.

'Warning: No funny business.'

Back to my crew.

* * *

Purple-dyed sky. Air heavy with abnormal demonic essence. Ground teeming with monsters. Roars, blood stench from mutual slaughter. Murderous intent piercing the heavens.

Leaders holding back—no big clash yet. But time ticked down. Even Riok, bug legion boss, drooled endlessly. Parasites in its gut fueling infinite hunger. It gulped swamp sludge nonstop, shitting it back out to sate itself—or so the spider knew. Pathetic, ugly beast. Leader only 'cause biggest and strongest.

Spider coveted the radiant fruit. Not impossible. The queen was the real threat to watch, not Riok. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It'd planned to wipe her and her kin here. Snake was a surprise... but lost inner core. Acceptable loss—sweep queen's crew, cheap price.

Spider chuckled slyly. Holding back laughter was torture. They hadn't sensed their doom.

Fwooom!

Thorns around the towering world tree root ignited. Ash in seconds. It begins.

Sweeter omen: “Ah, sweet aroma.”

Gut burning, itchy hunger. Sticky drool. Heavenly scent from the root. Fruit ripened.

“Kweeeeeeee!”

Chongwang Riok roared.

“Kueeeh!”

Silverback Akimus too. Monsters surged. Monkeys clashed bugs—viscous fluids splattered, limbs flew. Spider barely restrained itself. Minions formed a circle. Prepped its strongest skill.

Crushed front minion's head with foreleg.

Kwachik.

“First...”

As curse activated—

Fwapp.

Wingbeats. Not bugs—birds. Why here? Purple-feathered parrot flitting about.

“Spider, spider! Shiny.”

Talks too. Soared high.

Spider sensed doom. Far off—a massive, majestic snake staring right at it. How? Since when? Why mouth agape?

Shiny.

Light gathered in snake's maw. Knew it vaporized monsters. No hesitation—condensed, max power blast.

Spider ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠realized too late.

“Ah... snake.”

Its last words. Destruction Beam incinerated it and minions.

* * *

Whoa.

Two whole levels! Beyond expectations. How? Only 1/5 share, yet lv63 spider yielded this? Top minions clustered? Yeah—Dad minimized mana use, short zap on tight spot. New parrot sentry made it possible.

—How'd you know it'd betray?

'Spider.'

—That's your reason...?

Not baseless arachnophobia. Grabbing the core screamed "hit first."

Cursed inner core. Slipped in a curse meantime. Like spiking food with capsaicin unannounced. Had to strike first.

Checked core again. Huh!

Description changed. Curse caster dead, curse lifted? Sweet. For Dad later. Pocketed it, hopped on gorilla lady.

'Now link with Great Centipede.'

“Let's gooo!”

Join queen while Riok and chimp fight. My plan.

—Wait.

Pellelian urgent. Turned to central root he pointed at. Monkeys and bugs clashed brutally. As expected.

—Not there—above!

Oh. Golems midway on root. Silver monkey grappling one. Akimus climbing.

Then Riok? Whirrr! Helicopter? No—Riok flapping wings. Lifted that bulky body briefly—miracle. Crashed into densest monster cluster nearby.

—Zero intellect. Not all elites smart.

But didn't expect that. Madness from hunger—devouring all ground monsters. Monkeys, bugs, spiders, centipedes...

Eh.