Chapter 231 231 Soul Contract
Chapter 231 231 Soul Contract
Nexus' eyes popped open as it spilled out of the sac- and slid down from the intestines- crashing to the ground with a thud.
"That one's dead." the York girl announced.
"Yes captain obvious. I can see that." suddenly- his eyes dimmed; "Wait a damn minute, what do you mean 'this one?' HOW MANY ARE–"
Nature gave him the answer with the next plop sound.
A moist bundle of black fur- twitching, and tweaking, came plopping out of the split uterus. It slipped out and fell off the sticky sides of the uterus. A soft queak rattled out of the creature. And out of nowhere, suddenly, the Black Widow shuddered violently- shaking its massive body- as more blood and tissue spilled out of its split open stomach.
Nexus shook his head;
"She doesn't have much fight left in her, and I think she knows the baby spiders will die in her uterus if she doesn't give birth right away. Its now or never."
Stacy- still squatting, and a little bit intrigued, reached out and placed her palm on the giant spider- right above the joints connecting its powerful legs to its shoulders.
"I think you're right master. . .she intentionally collapsed just so she could force her belly open. It's probably the quickest way to induce labor–"
They both glanced at the bulging sac- noting a fresh head popping out of the uterus. It was the size of a two human fists.
"–gosh. There's still so many. . .and. . .oh heavens, they're not even close to being fully formed yet."
"Of course they're not," Nexus spoke up; "The pregnancy is way still premature. They should still be incubating for another couple of weeks or so. They're only popping out because of this freak accident."
Together, they both watched as the second baby spider, squirmed on the bare ground- scattering its eight legs- searching fruitlessly for the warm comfort of the uterus' walls. A soft wheezing sound curled into the air- followed by the scratching of its moist legs along the earth's surface.
With each passing moment, its squeaks and scampering began to grow weaker and weaker. Until finally–
"Great," Nexus sighed in frustration; "Another one's dead. Do you know anything about childbirth at all?"
Instantly, Nexus regretted asking.
Stacy's eyebrows shot up immediately;
"I'm sorry to disappoint you master, but childbirth isn't exactly my thing. I take lives for a living- not help bring them forth."
Her biting sarcasm stung his already bruised ego.
"There's still a bunch of them," she declared; "I don't know how many, but by the size of that uterus, I should say almost a dozen."
"A dozen?" he shook his head; "They're far from fully formed. There's absolutely no way anyone is going survive."
Stacy pulled herself up- dusting her hands together as she roved her eyes across the beast;
"Well, if we're to be optimistic- at most, one or two may end up making it. But given the terrain, without the warmth of their mother's snuggles, and without milk, they won't last through the night."
Nexus' hands dug into his pockets- narrowing his eyes in deep thought.
His voice came out with another paralyzing revelation;
"Tonight, the wireworms in this territory will feast on their corpses. Anyone that's still alive- will die getting eaten- alive."
Even Stacy's hardened eyes glistened for a moment. She opened her mouth to say something, but another bubbling head appeared at the base of the open membrane.
This one was way bigger- burlier- and a whole lot noisier.
Nexus' ears caught the higher note of its squeaks. His eyes found its squirming legs- all slippery moist, and gleaming with embryonic fluids. Its eyes were closed. But its voice rang louder, and firmer than the two previous ones.
The Black Widow wailed- thrashing its rear four legs- squeezing out of the bulky baby spider from its uterus.
"Master–"
"Yeah, I know," he answered without looking up; "That one looks healthy. It should live."
One by one, under the gray haze of twilight, the remaining baby spiders came spilling out the creature's womb. With a soft thud, they all landed on the ground- squirming, and wailing in silent wheezes- trying to find their way.
With each splurge, the Black Widow's breathing grew hoarse and hoarse. It kept going- until finally, the last baby spider in its bulging sac escaped from the womb- landed on the floor, and rolled over with its moist body.
The giant spider was done.
And it knew.
All the tension in its body- from its six and a half curved legs, to its scar covered torso, to its glossy red eyes- all sank, as it heaved its last breath.
"You've really outdone yourself you tough bitch," Nexus said aloud- looking at it; "Don't worry, I got this from here–"
By his side, she shot him a quick glance; 'Did he–? Wait–, did he really jusy promise to take care of the children?'
Nexus' muscles stiffened in his neck as he arched his head- lowering it sympathetically;
"I promise." He said out loud: "I'll make sure your children are taken care off,"
His voice rasped assuredly in the wind- looking directly at the spider.
In the spider's eyes- life cackled nervously. All three red, glossy eyeballs shimmered slightly in understanding. And for a moment- it held Nexus' gaze, returning its glare with gratitude.
That stretch of time blended into cascading currents- drifting from moments into minutes. Silently, the eyes of the entity coiled over- enclosing, as it slowly shut- drifting into eternal slumber.
Nexus watched its legs stretch peacefully. As did its thick torso. The beast died peacefully. And Nexus liked to think that it was because of his promise.
"Master, what exactly do we do with these?" Stacy echoed flippantly: "I don't want to burst your bubble-" yes she did: "-but in the last couple of minutes, about half of them have died already."
His shoulders swung- tilting his full body weight on the soles of his feet- towards Stacy on his right.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak- he froze.
[BE ADVISED, A NEW OPTION TO SIGN A SOUL CONTRACT IS AVAILABLE.]
Stacy cocked her head- watching him closely;
[YOU ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO BIND YOUR SOUL TO THE OFFSPRINGS.]
[DOING SO WOULD MAKE THE CREATURES YOUR SPIRIT ANIMALS.]
Nexus gulped.
[THEY WILL BE BOUND TO YOU FOR LIFE.]
[THEY WILL ANSWER YOUR SUMMONS.]
[THEY WILL FIGHT, STEAL, MAIM, AND KILL FOR YOU.]
Eyes glistening, hands twitching, and head pounding, Nexus soaked himself in this rich juicy knowledge.
[TO COMPLETE THE COVENANT, PROCEED WITH THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS.]
His jaws squared on his face. And he instantly squared his shoulders upright.
[PROCEED TOWARDS THE LITTER OF BABY SPIDERS.]
Nexus all but marched towards them.
[HOLD OUT YOUR ARM-]
He did.
[OPEN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, AND SLICE THROUGH WITH A STRAIGHT LINE.]