Civilization

"Congratulations deary~ The Union was a SUCCESS!" - Selino

[Queen of Spiders, Selino, and Player are now successfully bounded, however, the consciousness of the Queen of Spiders, is still inside the Player and cannot be removed, yet. Due to the unstable unison, the Player and the Queen of Spiders may unexpectedly switch to control the body. Specific skills and stat bonuses will not travel over to the player due to the Queen of Spiders' consciousness.]

[As the first player to be bound with another being the player will be rewarded.

+20 in all Stats.

Skill gained, Peace at Heart (Passive). ]

[Transferring some Queen of Spiders' Stats and skills to the player…

+20 in all Stats, except for Luck.

Skill gained, Steel String

Skill gained, Royalty Presence (Passive)

Skill gained, Playful Webbing (Passive)

Skill gained, Advanced Control (Passive)

Skill gained, Dark Vision (Passive) ]

[Be warned! Do not lose control of your humanity, Player Ian.]

Name: Ian

Race: Arachne

Faith: 9412/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )

Happiness: 50  ( Happy ) 950/5000( Reach 5000 for a Golden Age )

Culture: 310 / 950 ( Reach 900 to choose the first Social Policy in Tradition )

Health Points (HP): 170/170

Mana Points (MP): 48/48

Strength: 85

Vitality: 85

Intelligence: 95

Dexterity: 70

Agility: 95

Luck: 56

Skill: Enhanced Agility, Quickstep, Cleave, Charge, Stealth, Emerald Gaze, Earth Spike, Bone Totem, Extreme Speed, Steel String, Eye of the Roc (Passive), Predator Instinct (Passive), Limb Regrowth (Passive), Buffalo Horns (Passive), Miasma Protection (Passive), Royalty Presence (Passive), Playful Webbing (Passive), Advanced Control (Passive), Dark Vision (Passive)

Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace, Araneae Ring, Vomva Bronze Trident, Skala Mail, Copper Chest Plate, Copper Arm Guard, Copper Leg Guard, Code of Hammurabi, Night Gloves, Hoplite Bodyguard Emblem

Steel String (Active) 1MP - Create a sticky string that is as hard as steel from your fingertips (all 10 fingers can create the string). The current limit on distance is 10 meters, however, it can improve with the user's continued use. Cooldown 10 seconds.

Royalty Presence (Passive) - In front of other spider monsters, they will receive a debuff of 10% in all stats as well as a 20% chance to feel Fear within a 10-meter radius of the user.

Playful Webbing (Passive) - Advanced control over the usage of strings. Able to create an abundance of shapes or use the strings creatively without any restrictions.

Advanced Control (Passive) - A higher level of control with the spider legs. Able to use them to a higher degree, as well as being more flexible in their usage.

Dark Vision (Passive) - Able to see in the dark, up to 50 meters.

The number of notifications I received from the system, bombard my weary sight as I lay on the ground on top of pieces of rocks and web. My limbs feel like metal, and the seducing voice of Selino resonates in my ears, as I realize she is no longer near me. Glancing to my sides, I only see my equipment placed neatly on a stone slab, however, I refuse to move to grab it. Instead, I close my eyes and breath in and out slowly trying to understand the situation that I am now in.

The Union was successful, both the system and Selino were telling me that. Currently, she is within my consciousness, wandering about in my mind, looking around like a child arriving at a toy store. However, what was the Union? From the very limited information that Selino has told me, the Union was a way for two beings of different races or the same race to combine into one. Different from merging both entities together, and more like transferring the soul into another soul, in order to control the same body.

The advantage she was talking about, combining with me was to learn more about the world outside of Settlement. As for the possibility of her even coming out with me, I have no idea, but it was better than endlessly dying at her hands since she was able to find me as I respawned into the game. What's more is that I also gained quite a lot from forming the Union with her, in the form of stats and skills.

It looks like to me that it is similar to the Demon Contract that Kingston has with Belial, except I don't know which one is more dangerous. My body is still mine, but there is a chance that Selino can control it as well, which terrifies me. What if she uses my body to commit mass murder? What if she just kills me? No, wait… That would kill her as well. Gulping down my saliva, the thought of dying without any control over my own body, sends shivers down my spine.

"So, how do you feel, deary?" - Selino

Hearing her voice inside my head, makes my heart race. Clenching my fists tightly as I think of a reply to her.

"F-Fine. How are you feeling?" - Ian

"Oh my! Someone is shy. You know, I can feel what you are feeling right? The two of us are now bounded together, like the red string of fate." - Selino

"I-" - Ian

"Don't worry! I won't be using your body for any… Naughty, things. I'm quite the wholesome lady. So, deary, what do you plan to do? I'm curious~ I have already spoken to Nina, but you are the big boss. Aren't you?" - Selino

"Before I tell you anything. I want to ask you something first. Are you on my side? Or the Horde? Will you be helping me or will you be hindering me?" - Ian

"Hmm… I'm on neither side. I am on my own side, doing what I want to do. As for helping you… Of course, deary. I will help you, but sometimes I will be helping myself." - Selino

"What do you mean by that?" - Ian

"You remember my dear spider, Mikki? You see, I let him infiltrate your little village, impersonating you." - Selino

"YOU DID WHAT?!" - Ian

"Ow~ Don't yell, it echoes in here. It's fine, he was found out almost immediately by Nina and the other girl, Rebecca. By the way, she is very cute. Good job, deary. Mikki has been busy helping your group attack the Reaper's Castle, and I can swap places with him. See? Helping aren't I?" - Selino

"So, we can go to them right now, if we need to?" - Ian

"Yes, but not with you in control. I have to be the one in control. After becoming one with you, I have noticed you have the aid of a higher being. Very interesting isn't it, deary? You call it a system, and it provides you with hints and clues. I guess now that we are one, I can see it as well. Some of my abilities are locked, and only available when I am in control of the body. Funnily enough, I thought I would be the main body or main mind, but it seems like you are." - Selino

"I have to let you take control of the body? I thought it was a random thing. Something that happens without any of our control." - Ian

"Maybe. Deary, this is a first for me as well, but I assume you can let me take control." - Selino

"Will you give back the body?" - Ian

"Of course! Why? Do you think I will just keep control until the foreseeable future?" - Selino

"... I don't know. Frankly, I was kind of forced into this situation." - Ian

"Then, how do you plan on joining your friends? Let me tell you first, you can't join them under normal conditions." - Selino

"That doesn't mean letting you take control of my body is going to help, is it? I don't know anything you are about to do." - Ian

"You will. Much like how I am slowly starting to understand your thoughts, you will understand mine as well. Deary, let me show you. You can trust me." - Selino

Slowly, I stand up, walking over to my equipment. Placing them, one by one. My reflection shines on the breastplate as I pick it up, revealing to me the changes to my body. Ones that I had to see to believe. Diagonally above my eyes, were 6 small horizontal slits, and my hair has grown slightly longer, parting in the middle with one side black and the other silver.

At the same time, I notice that my spider legs aren't protruding out anymore. Yet I still feel them behind me, attached to my back. Gritting my teeth, I put on the rest of my armor, grasping onto my trident.

"... Sigh. Once again, I don't have much choice. What do I need to do?" - Ian

"Just say you want to swap with me. I don't know if there is a certain command but try anything and just think of it." - Selino

Closing my eyes, I think of Selino. Seeing her look back at me, inside my head, I feel a spark connecting us. Closing her eyes as well, as if she was reading my mind, we say the same word together.

"Switch." - Ian/Selino