Spiders Web

Hours must have passed since I started my experiments with my two new skills. I managed to gain the hang of it pretty easily, and once I did, nobody could stop me. I only wanted to test out more combinations and results, but my mana had limits.

Once it reached zero, my ability to use magic was completely cut off, and I had to allow the bar to refill. Thankfully, it recharged naturally over time, but I learnt a neat trick when I got close to the Myranite Shards along the cave walls.

I was able to suck up the mana they had stored in them. It felt a little parasitic, but it’s not like they were alive, so I’m sure they didn’t mind. Probably. Plus, I preferred to look at it like one stone doing a solid for another stone.

Okay, I think I’ve tried out enough things for today. I think it's time to go hunt some more.

…

Huh, why can’t I move? I’m stuck–what’s happening?! I tried walking forward, but my leg wouldn’t move at all.

Something about this felt all too familiar. Crap, this is definitely the invisible strings that stalker used, but stronger?

Before I could give it another second of thought, my senses were overrun by a sudden, crying screech from above. I was forced to look, fear ran control of me as I stared at the horrifying creature that crawled in from a tunnel in the ceiling.

The room was connected to another one above. Since I didn’t have full range of my neck, it was a little hard to spot until just now. A failure on my part, but there wasn’t time to think about that. Eight long legs stabbed against the stone walls and stretched a massive, round body of three parts, covered in black hairs. The plethora of beady red eyes locked onto me and a second later, I realised the situation I was in.

{Malevolent Arachnid Lv19}

I didn’t want to believe it, but it’s really the boss. I struggled even more, but it was no use. I was completely bound to the spot.

How did this happen? I can’t sense the spiderwebs at all– Wait, I don’t sense the boss either. I’m staring right at it, and I’m not picking up on any of it. I stared in disbelief. Is its presence hidden because of all the stones around here? They’re completely masking its mana…

I walked into its trap without even realising.

Based on the look on its face and how quickly it responded to me being caught, I couldn’t think of anything else. That web I hit was a trap set for prey. Thinking deeply on it, there were probably a few more of them spread throughout the room.

You got me with this, but don’t get so excited. I have a trick of my own, Wreck!! My body pushed forward and amounted to a small tension before it snapped free from the web. I stepped away, careful not to hit any more webs as I retreated back to the entrance I came from.

Looks like this side of the room is fine…but what terrible timing! I didn’t even get to level up in time to fight this guy; my only option is to retreat. I need to get out of here now.

I’ll have to conceal my presence, let me try out the new skill I picked up, Hide!

{Skill: Hide}
{Conceal a presence by bending light around the target. Consumes MP over time}

Using the same trick the Toxic Scout applied to its webs, I concealed my body to a nearly invisible state. I waddled over to the entrance, slow as ever, but thankfully, it wouldn’t see me. Or so I thought…

A mouthful of sizzling purple liquid dropped from the ceiling and brought me to a halt. The ooze spread into a goopy puddle and made quick work of the ground. Heat rose from it like boiling water.

I-is that some kind of acid? How…I should be invisible right now, how did it see me? Interrupting my thoughts, another ball of acid rained over me. I cursed my slowness more than ever as I couldn’t dodge out of its way and was covered in it.

Ewwwwww– wait, it actually took away from my health?!

{123/150}

I knew these spider monsters were trouble. It was the second time I had suffered some kind of damage from their weird skills and this one seemed worse than the other. Portions of my shoulder and arm had been completely melted away and what was left of those areas were barely holding on.

Damn it, I’m not sure how it detected me through my {Hide} skill, but it looks like that’s out of the cards… I’ll have to escape some other way.

{Toxic substance detected}
{Resistance has nullified Poison effects}

That’s good to hear, but I’m still losing HP from it?!! I freaked out, swaying and thrashing my heavy body around to throw it off.

{116/150}

34 Health Points from one acid attack. That skill’s bad news. How do I take out something that’s stronger than me in every way?

Fear kept me in place as I struggled to move–no, I mean I was afraid but not that badly–my legs were probably bound again. That wasn’t right, I hadn’t moved from the spot and the boss hadn’t gotten any closer either. So how…?

“Ki-ki-ki-ki-ki!” A high-pitched shriek turned my head.

{Venom Scarra Lv7}

Not another spider!!

Of course, it had minions lying around, even in the games I played in my previous life, boss monsters always led with a few grunts. It was only natural for strong creatures to make use of weaker ones, but now that it was happening to me– I couldn’t see anything good about this situation.

C-crap, can’t we talk this out, guys? My docile posture was met with a sharp shot of web to the face and I cringed on the spot, ripping and whacking it off with wild motions. That’s seriously nasty!!!!

I got angry, but there was nothing I could do against it. The moment I walked towards it, I was met with another shot of webs. My shoulder was bound. Then my left leg and my right arm followed immediately after. They came from different directions..

{Venom Scarra Lv7} {Venom Scarra Lv6} {Venom Scarra Lv9} {Venom Scarra Lv7}

You’ve got to be kidding me…

Webs shot at me like sticky bullets. Left, right, above, they came from all over and without any speed, I could barely dodge them.

Enough of this, I won’t just roll over and let you take me down! I focused my mana supply on the dirt and summoned a ball of rock in front of me.

Webs hit the stone but weren’t able to break past its solid defence. That only covered one angle though, I still had three others to defend against.

Not enough? Well, give this a try then. Earth Magic, defence!!

I focused fully on creating a second image of a rock in my mind. It was difficult, but in the end, I managed it. A second stone appeared behind me. Between the two, I was able to shift them through the air and block the oncoming web attacks.

Success! What’s the matter, ugly? Not feeling so hot when you can’t hit me with your webs? I egged them on. A shrilling cry rang from above.

A bubble of acid dropped over me and was seconds from making contact. Both my shields were too far apart, and I didn’t have enough speed to dodge it.

Crap, I forgot about you… I’ll have to tank it, there’s no other way. Damn, I really don’t want to waste precious HP, though!!!

Even though I knew it was coming, it was a hard pill to swallow, to see my Health bar drop so quickly. The initial drop was so much.

{82/150}

I’m nearly down to half health, I can’t let it hit me again. I need to get out of here, quickly! Scanning the cave around me, I tried finding something–anything I could use to help. My attention was stolen by the sharp darting of the venomous spiders that raced across the air. Most probably making use of some more invisible webs.

The one closest to me held a ball in its mouth and spat something over it, a bright green liquid. Suddenly, its entire body was covered in a strong purple light, and I had a strange suspicion that danger would follow.

Steam rose from its webs, and with a long arch, it hurled the ball of goo towards me. I blocked one with a defensive stone, but it was blown apart into chunks.

W-what the hell– how did it get so much stronger? It’s that ooze it coated it with, it’s probably some kind of magical venom! Still, that power was way too strong, wasn’t it?

My eyes instinctively tracked back to the larger boss monster. Surprisingly, it had a large magic circle hovering at the end of one of its claws. Its potent aura cut through the shroud of mana in the air and I could detect it clearly.

So that’s how it got so strong, it’s probably casting magic on that smaller spider! Maybe some kind of buffing spell? That’s not fair–! Aah, hey, stop interrupting me!

I hurried and created another shield, but before it could materialise fully, another steaming web-ball flung my way. I countered with my arm and took less damage, but damage nonetheless. Both my arms were in dire condition, barely holding on.

{-17 HP}

That boss is making this too unfair. I don't even have time to come up with a plan of escape!

One of the smaller spiders formed another ball, but I got annoyed and grabbed the small stone I had created. It wasn’t as large as the others I used for defence, but I didn’t care. I was just sick of those damn spiders hitting me every two seconds.

Attaching the stone to my stump-arm with magic control, I reeled back just as the spider had done to me and flung it full force.

How’s that– woah, not bad…

{You have gained the skill <Piercing Stone>}

Surprised by my own strength, I lowered my arm in shock at the massive explosion of dust on the ceiling. Rocks dropped like rain, a little ways ahead of me and the spider darted away in fear. I just wanted to scare it away, but I actually came close to hitting it. With that kind of power, it didn't seem so impossible to kill it.

Maybe running away is too much of a dream, I might have to fight here? I looked back between the boss and the Spider Scarra surrounding me and nodded. Yeah, there’s no other choice! Screw plan A or B, I’m just going all out!

****

The Boss must have caught onto my plan, because it began casting out buffing magic one after another. The Venomous Scarra darted further away, probably to avoid my range. As soon as one of them stopped to put together a ball of web, I’d block my blind spot with a shield and reel back my throwing arm.

I’m running out of Mana again, I need some time to let it regain. Thankfully, we’re fighting in this stone cave– I have all the batteries I need to keep on fighting!

Once my mana reached a low enough point, I naturally began to draw in the mana around me and it’d fill right up. It was faster than naturally building it up, but it wasn’t instant. So I still had a bit of downtime in between.

I guess that’s what they were waiting for.

I waited for my opportunity and then struck. Finally, I saw an opening, just as the onslaught of webs ceased and they drew their slimy webs into a ball, I launched the rock I had been holding.

The attack landed and after many attempts and failures, one finally pierced the Scarra. Green goo rushed from its damaged body and it dropped from the web it clung to. It caught itself before reaching the bottom and my anxiety rose.

No! I can't let it escape or it’s game over! My mana was already low, but I had no idea when my next chance to hit one would come. I needed to level up so I could take on the rest! I won’t let you run, not after all that effort.

I shifted my weight forward and pounded the ground like an angry gorilla. The floor shuddered and sent loose pebbles into eye level with me. With a round swing, I sent them flying forward like bullets. Perfectly in line with my targets.

{75 Exp Gained}
{80 Exp Gained}
{Level Up}