Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (positive books to read .txt) 📕

and thin, broken only the dorsal hinges as they flexed. Sharp points of chitin tipped the ends like four razor shard dagger points.

Okay, these are kind of badass…and terrifying.

“Let’s bring terror to them!”

One question, how do I control them?

“Like any other appendage, you fleshy meatbag.”

It was correct. I found I just had to put a little bit of focus into them, and they moved just like my own flesh and blood arms.

The four men stood transfixed at the sudden appearance of four new limbs from my back, but they could do nothing now. They’d made their choice.

The first man stood just as my foot connected with his tanned chest. He went headfirst over the back of his chair and cracked his thick skull on the rock floor, tearing a long gash on the side of his head.

By the time the first man hit the ground, the others rose from their chairs and attacked. I stepped to the side of the second man’s swing. The dwarf’s attack went wide, the extra force throwing Second off balance. I struck his unprotected side as he tried to right himself. I speared into him with two of my new limbs. They slid between his ribs with ease, slicing across his ribs, tearing through his lungs and puncturing his heart.

I jerked my limbs free, and they came with a spurt of blood. Second fell to the floor, barely missing hitting his head on the wood as he dropped. His eyes went wide with pain before they dimmed.

Third tried to go around Second’s body, but I shoved him into First as he picked himself up. Both of them tumbled to the floor. Fourth snarled, his blackened teeth set in a fierce grimace as he leapt over the table.

I grabbed the chair I’d been sitting on like it weighed as much as a feather and bashed Fourth across the face as he landed from his jump.

His jaw dislocated with a crunch, and he sprawled on the ground, joining his friends. The chair still in hand, I brought it down on his kneecap, shattering it.

While Fourth screamed in pain, I slid my arachnid limbs into his neck and ripped his head from his shoulders. It thunked on the table and gushed blood across the worn wood.

With two of the men dead, I dealt with the remainder. The cavern plunged  into silence as everyone stared at the mess of blood and bodies I’d left in my wake. The guards overhead watched with dispassionate gazes and went about their day, not fazed by the deaths of the inmates.

First shoved Third off him and stood. His wild hair was flecked with blood from one of the men I’d killed. He didn’t care that I’d dispatched two of his friends with ease; he charged me.

I caught his unhinged swing and dislocated his arm at the shoulder. I let go of him as I brought two of the chitinous limbs down and into his back. I forced him to the ground as I sought his heart. With a flick, I tore it to pieces and retracted my spider legs.

As First bled out, I dealt with Third. He stared at me in terror as his eye flicked from me to his dead friends.

He turned to run but stopped.

Third stood very still for a long moment before he stumbled and fell to the side.

Standing in front of him, wielding a bloody shiv, was Maus.

He knelt and wiped his bloody hand. “Sorry about stealing your kill. I know that’s not cool, but I figured I’d save you the trouble of chasing after him.”

“I didn’t need your help,” I spat.

I used one of the dead mens’ tunics to clean the blood off myself and walked over to the nearest table where three men sat staring with unblinking eyes.

“Move.”

They shot up like a bolt of lightning and were gone in a flash. I sat down and helped myself to their untouched waters.

“That was fun.”

It wasn’t boring. Now let’s catalogue my notifications, I’m betting I leveled up from these past few fights.

 

Combat Results!

5 Killed (Dwarf): 9000 Exp!

3 Killed (Human): 4500 Exp!

1 Downed (Dwarf): 1800 Exp!

Mercy Penalty: -600 Exp!

Total Exp Gained: 14700 Exp!

Exp: 5700/5700

Level Up! (x2)

Level: 59

5400/5900

20 Stat Points Available!

 

After I sorted my stats, ten to Durability and ten to Battle Fatigue. I let the adrenaline wear out of me and let the chitin flow back under my skin. I laid my head on the rough wood, in desperate need of a nap.

“That was some fight. I know its impolite, but I have to know. What’s your class?”

I looked up and blinked my weary eyes at Maus, who’d taken a seat next to me on the table.

“I’m too tired to deal with your bullshit. Just tell me what you want and get the fuck out of my sight.”

“I’m here to offer you a friendly hand,” he said, putting a smile on his face.

“I’m fine. I don’t need your help,” I said, waving him off. “Why the hell do you keep showing up, anyway?”

Maus shrugged, glancing up at the guards, who weren’t paying any attention. He held out a cup of water for me. “Because you’re the most capable person in this damn place, and I’ve been stuck in here for too long. I want to escape, but I can’t do it alone.”

“Why me?” I asked, draining the cup.

“Us players need to stick together.”

I snorted and sat up, leaning back on the rickety chair. I was too worn out to have the strength to force him away. Maus sat up and shifted chairs coming to sit by me and leaned his head in close. With another quick look around, he held out his hand. In his palm were a few scraps