Douluo Dalu: Starting Evolution as the Man-Faced Demon Spider

An excruciating pain, like being pierced by countless needles, slowly brought Fang Chang's consciousness back to life. At the same time, he felt something vital being desperately pulled out of his body by a powerful suction force.

Groggily opening his eyes, he was met with endless foliage, as though he were in an unfamiliar, lush jungle.

Where am I?

Fang Chang tried to move his extremely weak body, his gaze following the effort. In front of him stood a young man in a blue combat outfit, eyes closed, holding a stalk of Blue Silver Grass. Around the grass were two faint yellow rings fluctuating in size, and above them, a faint purple ring was slowly taking shape.

Meanwhile, purple light occasionally shimmered from Fang Chang's body, resembling glowing purple dust, which drifted toward the purple ring and was absorbed, making it slightly more condensed.

Tang San? COSPLAY?

The person's appearance immediately reminded Fang Chang of something familiar.

Better than a live-action adaptation, and the props are even more realistic, he evaluated silently. With that thought, he extended a "hand" in a friendly greeting toward the "Tang San cosplayer" in front of him.

"Third Brother, watch out!"

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from a white-clad girl in the distance. The "Tang San cosplayer" abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of purple light darting through them. He swiftly leaped backward three steps, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Hissss!

Fang Chang, completely baffled, realized his voice seemed... off.

He had intended to say "hello," but instead, he let out a bizarre hissing sound. Looking at his raised "hand," he noticed it was more accurate to call it a front leg—it left a hole more than ten centimeters deep where it struck the ground.

What...

Fang Chang stared at his "hand"—or rather, his front leg—lost in thought.

"Third Brother, be careful. This Man-Faced Demon Spider isn't dead yet!"

A young man, appearing a few years older than the "Tang San cosplayer," stepped forward protectively, a faint white tiger shadow emerging around him.

The "Tang San cosplayer," interrupted while absorbing a soul ring, had suffered a severe backlash. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he nodded at the older youth, producing a hand crossbow from who knows where.

"Hehe, Xiao San, eat a sausage!"

Nearby, a man with a mischievous smile approached, offering two sausages in hand. Two young women blushed furiously at his words, shooting him irritated glares.

"This Man-Faced Demon Spider is truly cunning! It even knows how to play dead. If I hadn't noticed in time, Third Brother might have fallen for its trap!"

The white-clad girl puffed out her chest, boasting, while summoning a pagoda in her hand, which emitted a few beams of radiance to shield the group.

At this point, even the slowest of individuals would understand their predicament. Fang Chang had crossed over to the Douluo Continent—as a Man-Faced Demon Spider! Not just any spider, but the one destined to become Tang San's third spirit ring.

And in front of him now was none other than the protagonist group, the Shrek Seven Devils.

The "Tang San cosplayer"? It was Tang San.

Looking at himself, his once-sturdy carapace was mostly shattered, his body covered in ghastly wounds. The searing pain had nearly caused him to faint multiple times.

He could think of no better words to describe his plight than absolute misery.

Crossing over is fine. But why as a non-human? Fine, not human, but why must I immediately antagonize the protagonist group? And worse, I'm heavily injured!

It was the worst possible start.

Fang Chang glanced again at the group before him. Each seemed as strong as or stronger than him, especially the burly middle-aged man radiating suffocating pressure.

Should I fight? Or run?

Urgently pondering his next move, Fang Chang hesitated just long enough for the young men and women to form a semi-circle, cautiously closing in on him.

Instinctively retreating a few steps, he noticed the middle-aged man behind them wasn't intervening, seemingly leaving the task to his companions.

Just as the group launched their attack, Fang Chang pushed off with his eight legs, darting into the dense forest.

Their strikes missed entirely, leaving them staring at one another in disbelief.

"He ran?"

"Xiao San, your soul ring escaped," Oscar quipped with an amused grin, earning a glare from Ning Rongrong.

"Instead of joking, why don't you chase after it?" she retorted.

"It's at its limit. It won't get far. Let's go after it," Tang San suggested, smiling wryly.

The group quickly pursued Fang Chang, their teacher Zhao Wuji trailing leisurely behind, confident the spider posed no threat to his "little monsters."

As darkness fell over the Star Dou Forest, Fang Chang managed to maintain a distance, thanks to the forest's natural obstructions. Exhausted, he finally found a hiding spot atop a giant tree, curling his legs and blending into the shadows.

While the Shrek Seven Devils searched below, Fang Chang took deep breaths, his mind racing for a way out.

Surely I must have a golden finger, right?

Sinking into his consciousness, he glimpsed a glowing screen slowly materializing in his mind.