Fiend Race
It wasn’t a figure or fire or trees but one ugly monster! Like humans, it had four limbs, human hands with a coat of short fur, and black, long fingernails. It didn’t have a human head but a ghastly pale face with eight eyes of varying sizes. It had two grey fangs, a scorpion tail and pedipalps it snipped constantly. Its spider face and scorpion tail were its unique traits. It was far more lethal than spiders and scorpions. They were a cruel race that was picky about what they hunted. Their males only liked eating female prey and vice versa. It was called a black-face spider, one of the treasured fiend beast races.
“Human. Male. No like.”
First of all, it wasn’t meant to have a humanoid form; its body was supposed to be a spider body. Second of all, it spoke in humanity’s language, which fiends weren’t supposed to be capable of.
“You’re a fiend!”
Three races represented all living things with spirits, namely humans, who ruled the entire world, elemental demons and fiends. Of the three races, humans were the best at manipulating natural spiritual energy owing to their forms. Elemental demons had human forms but were far stronger than humans. Fiends needed to transcend to assume human forms that allowed them to control natural spiritual energy more proficiently. In some cases, it was impossible to differentiate between humans and fiends.
Fiends were the transcendent form of fiend beasts; fiends to fiend beasts were what cultivators were to ordinary humans. The fiend beast population was similar to humanity’s. However, there were few fiends in comparison to cultivators. The requirement to ascend from a fiend beast to a fiend was intelligence because it was compulsory for self-awareness, cultivation, manipulation of natural spiritual and the ability to use magic. Fiend beasts’ transcendence process took a long time and came at the cost of a big chunk of their power, rendering them fairly defenceless. Their process was considerably harder compared to human cultivation.
Once fiend beasts transcended, they could give humans a run for their money in battle. Their small population was partially attributed to their aggressive nature that survived the transcendence.
Five thousand year ago, the fiend race’s heyday, ten great sovereigns headed the fiend race. Unwilling to bow to humans, the powerful ten great sovereigns waged a war against humanity. Mankind ended up sealing the ten away to restore peace to humanity’s world. The elemental demons then jumped in and pulverised the crippled fiend race. In order to survive, the fiends allied with humankind. Thus, humanity and fiends signed an agreement that demanded fiends pledged their service to humanity and secluded themselves where humans rarely frequented. Due to a lack of guidance, other fiend beasts struggled to transcend thereafter.
Most cultivators had forgotten about the fiend race and focused solely on the malicious elemental demons. Unlike elemental demons, fiends weren’t able to manipulate humanity’s living necessities, hence reducing their threat. Even so, their origin as fiend beasts meant they possessed markedly more power than humans. It, therefore, was quite the hassle combating them.
The fact the black-face spider had adopted a four limbs but remained in a fiend form was an indication its transcendence was incomplete, although the reason for it was still a mystery. As a level two fiend, it was on par with humanity’s Foundation Establishment Realm.
“Humans. Must die.” Fiend beasts were blessed with strong legs, granting them greater speed compared to humans. The black-face spider propelled itself forward and spat bullets of steamy white liquid at Mu Yu.
“Hey, hygiene, my guy.” Mu Yu made a quick retreat.
The droplets sizzled upon hitting the ground, displaying its corrosive attribute.
“Damn, this fella has no manners,” griped Mu Yu, evading the next barrage of steaming bullets.
The fiend’s attack didn’t have a cool down interval. It charged and met Mu Yu’s sword head on without a hitch. Mu Yu proceeded to shift away whilst watching the agile scorpion tail and dangerous mouth. It was a physical fight and a mental fight since trying not to be disgusted to death was a battle in itself.
Mu Yu jumped up and slashed a wave of sword qi at the fiend’s chest but only managed to slice its fur. He evidently underestimated it.
“Do all of you have such thick skin?”
Mu Yu gave the tail and lethal saliva the slip, landing on a rock. He glanced over to Hong Yan, worried.
The fiend initiated the charge again. Mu Yu split his sword in two. Meeting the fiend head on, he thrust one sword at the fiend’s eye and the other at its tail. It caught Mu Yu’s swords with a vice-like grip and smirked.
“I was only getting started.”
Mu Yu released the swords and drew a third sword to fix the fiend’s mouth. To his bafflement, something caught his sword mid swing. He suddenly felt a painful sensation. He didn’t catch the two new tentacles the fiend sprouted from its ribs and thrust into him.
Mu Yu fought the pain and utilised Dustfallen Stance, springing off the fiend’s tentacles. He smashed into the wall behind him and fell to the ground.
“I should’ve known it had eight legs!”
Mu Yu struggled to his feet and inspected his wounds. He had two wounds on his abdomen. The black tinge around it indicated the tentacles were poisonous.
“Mu… Mu Yu? Run… Run… You can’t beat it,” yelled Hong Yan, awoken due to the loud fight.
Male black-face spider liked female prey. That explained why he kidnapped Hong Yan but didn’t hurt her.
“I’m glad you’re all right, Senior Sister.”
Mu Yu’s wounded area turned numb. He scanned his surroundings for plants. The trick was to merge with the trees and transfer the toxin to the trees. Unfortunately, he was in a rocky cave. He found moss, but there was too little.
“Die. Human.”
The fiend threw Mu Yu’s Sword Splitter Sword away and advanced on Mu Yu again. Mu Yu dodged the next wave of white bullets and summoned his sword back up with a hand gesture. He shot his sword at the fiend, but he couldn’t replenish his spiritual energy. As such, the fiend easily smacked it away. Out of spiritual energy, Mu Yu leaned on the wall. The fiend closed in and cackled as it swung down at Mu Yu’s throat.
Mu Yu’s mistake was assuming the entire forest was nothing but plantations. His special ability was nullified inside the stone cave. He bitterly resigned himself to defeat.
Spurt!
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