NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
Gazing at the Vengeful Spirit Spider with a fierce determination, was it really that surprising?
“Are you thinking of fighting… that thing?”
Laute turned around with a blank expression, voicing her concern.
Thinking of fighting? Is that really a question?
“…Of course we have to fight.”
I answered without even turning my head.
Of course we have to fight! Or what, just die without resistance instead?
It’s not like I could just get killed instantly; more likely, I’d end up all tied up in spider silk, becoming spider chow or spider furniture!
You might be fine with that, but I certainly am not!
So—
“Laute, pull yourself together! If you don’t want to meet a pathetic end.”
With what could be my last piece of advice, I poured more strength into the sword in my hands and launched myself at the Vengeful Spirit Spider like an arrow.
“Wreeeek!”
The spider spread its fangs wide and raised its sharp front legs.
Its legs, bristling with hair between the chitinous gaps, spanned several meters, and at the tips, razor-sharp claws emerged like sickles.
“Come here, my son!”
The Vengeful Spirit Spider swung its raised legs like blades.
Faster than my own strikes! In the blink of an eye, those claws were already in front of me.
“Gah…!”
I hastily bent my upper body, letting its front leg sweep over my head.
Whoooooosh!
The horrifying sound of slicing air grazed my ears. If I’d taken that hit, my head would’ve exploded inside my helmet.
“Gyaaaaah!”
Acidic spray burst from its open maw. I braced my left hand on the ground and rolled to the side to dodge.
A surprisingly quick reaction.
Was this the outcome of survival instincts? My senses were sharp, bringing my physical abilities to a level beyond my usual performance.
I felt like my odds had slightly improved.
Chiiiii…!
The missed acidic spray sizzled as it melted the dirt and rock.
“Haah!”
I sprang up like a spring loaded with tension, slashing my sword diagonally.
Clang!
The sound of metal scraping against the shell sparked fireworks. It felt like I had swung my sword toward a shield. My hand tingled slightly.
“This is ridiculously tough…!”
“You idiot!”
It didn’t seem like I had done much damage. Yet, was I so enraged at just being attacked?
The Vengeful Spirit Spider lifted two of its side legs and brought them down on me like stakes.
“Cheh…!”
I stopped my swinging sword and jumped back to avoid its legs.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed through the tunnel. The miss from its spider claws struck the ground, leaving a deep gouge.
Rock fragments scattered from the impact, bouncing off my armor.
“Hoo…”
I exhaled a breath mixed with heat, calming my brain and lungs that had heated from the abrupt motion.
If I had taken that force head-on, could I have shaken it off? Frankly, I wasn’t sure.
‘But…’
Still, it felt strangely slower and weaker than I had expected.
Was it because it was the spirit of an ordinary elder rather than a warrior’s soul?
Its movements were a bit clumsy; if I ranked Vengeful Spirit Spiders, this one would surely be at the bottom.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
Of course, it didn’t mean I could relax.
It wasn’t a strike fueled by full power, but while my sword only scratched its shell, the Vengeful Spirit Spider was enraged.
“You think you can escape me?!”
The spider hunched over, exposing its back and neck.
Countless spines protruded from its carapace, reflecting the light from the fallen torch.
The wave of spines.
An attack that launches dozens of spines filled with paralysis poison to capture its prey.
As the description from a novel flashed through my mind, I hurriedly turned my feet and jumped to the side.
Pabababababak!
A rain of black spines poured down where I had just been standing, like someone firing a shotgun at the ground.
“There!”
As if it had anticipated my dodge, the Vengeful Spirit Spider fired another volley of spines at my previous position.
There was no way to dodge. My feet hadn’t even touched the ground yet.
“Gah…!”
I bit my lip and threw my cloak forward. Hoping the sturdy cloak would deflect the direction of the spines even slightly.
And then—
“Haah!”
My short, gray hair flew in front of me.
It was Laute.
She thrust her shield forward, taking the black spines aimed at me head-on.
Bwaaaah!
Splinters of wood scattered like rain on asphalt.
Holes were drilled into her sturdy round shield as the tips of the spines jutted out.
“Ugh…”
Her back swayed. Laute gritted her teeth and was pushed back, leaving long tracks along the ground.
“Haah… Haah…”
After withstanding the wave of spines, Laute took a few labored breaths and lowered her shield slightly.
The shield now looked more like garbage, riddled with holes instead of serving its purpose.
“Are you okay, Hilde?”
Laute turned to me, her face a mixture of desperation and resolve.
Her limbs trembled, whether from shock or fear, but at least she hadn’t dropped her sword and shield.
Looks like her fighting spirit had returned, thankfully.
“…Thanks to you.”
I straightened my posture and expressed my gratitude.
Thanks to her, I had avoided a major disaster.
While the spines likely wouldn’t pierce through my steel armor, if they had struck a part without metal plating, I would’ve been paralyzed in no time.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
The Vengeful Spirit Spider, having missed its catch, let out an annoyed screech.
Its wrinkled face twisted horrifically, resembling a filthy rag soaked in grease.
“Ugh…”
Laute flinched slightly, letting out a frightened sound.
“Listen carefully. I’ll draw its attention from the front. Laute, you go around to the opposite side and look for an opening. You can do that, right?”
I said gently to encourage her.
I’d take all the aggro; she just needed to pick off the prey from behind.
A tank wielding a sword and a rogue with a shield—it felt like our roles were reversed, but for now, this was the best plan.
If I left Laute at the front, she’d be turned into a human kabob in less than five minutes.
“Ah, yes. I’ll do my best…!”
Laute nodded.
“Good. Then here I go!”
After giving her a nod of reassurance, I rested my sword on my shoulder and charged at the Vengeful Spirit Spider.
“Haah!”
With a fierce shout, I forced my overwhelming anxiety and fear down.
“Gyaaaaaah! Yes! Come here, my son!”
The spider opened its front legs wide, welcoming me.
I expected another wave of spines, but it seemed like it needed to recharge, clearly ready to engage in close combat.
“Don’t make me laugh!”
I sprinted faster, aiming right at its front. Laute could find her place behind it.
Whooooooosh!
The driven claws approached like a grim reaper’s scythe.
Two, no, three. It was using another leg.
With tense eyes, I focused on every move it made, committing its actions to memory and preparing to respond.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
The first claw aimed for my shoulder. I rotated my body and parried it with my sword, letting it slide past.
Clang!
A heavy shock settled on my shoulder.
Its claw left a deep gouge in my shoulder as it slid off and buried itself in the ground.
One evaded.
Thudthudthud…
With the momentum of deflecting the first claw, my body was shoved to the side.
I kicked the ground to accelerate, evading the arc of the second claw.
The final claw came in behind.
Fwooooooosh!
The spider’s third claw aimed for my back, hissing through the air like a predator.
At the same time, its gaping fangs shot forth, targeting my neck.
“Enter my embrace!”
It had perfectly surrounded me, locking down all my possible escape routes.
Yet, there was one—and only one—gap.
“Such nonsense from a father!”
Swoosh!
I let instinct and intuition guide me toward the sole escape.
“Gyaaaaaah?!”
The spider quickly raised its head.
That’s right. I kicked off the ground and launched myself over its head.
If I leaped too high, I wouldn’t be able to react to retaliation, so I aimed to barely scrape the smooth top of its head with my toes.
“Calling yourself a father with that look? Ridiculous.”
I reversed my hold on the sword and glared down at its bumpy spider carapace.
It might come as a shock to it.
The reason it could never be my father.
“You’re a female! You’re the queen spider!”
“Gyaaaaaah?!”
The Vengeful Spirit Spider gasped in realization.
The tip of my sword, held upside down, pierced its one bulging eye.
And then—
“Ughhh… Gyaaaaaah!”
Simultaneously, Laute struck from behind, her blade piercing right through the Vengeful Spirit Spider’s spinneret like a stake.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
The spider screamed a vendetta-filled howl as it was pierced front and back.