Shelob?
A name I haven't heard of.
Arthur recalled, and indeed, he had never heard that name.
So he unceremoniously shook his head at Shelob: "I haven't heard of that name."
Shelob wasn't surprised, as not all beings living in Middle-earth had heard her name.
However, she was offended by Arthur's impolite tone and replied with a smile: "That's normal, just as I don't know when Middle-earth gained a character like you."
Arthur raised an eyebrow; he could hear the displeasure in Shelob's tone.
This meant that people she usually encountered were very respectful towards her, possibly due to her status, or perhaps her strength.
Arthur felt it was more likely the latter, because not just any cat or dog could rescue the person he wanted to kill from the Golden Wave of the Godslayer's Greatsword.
And Melina gently tugged at Arthur's sleeve, quietly reminding him from behind: "I remember the name Shelob. At Bilbo Baggins's home, Rogier recommended some books about Middle-earth to me, and this name was in one of the books that recorded dark creatures. She is a descendant of Ungoliant, and her current human form is likely a disguise."
Arthur subtly patted Melina's arm, indicating that he had heard her.
Although Arthur hadn't heard of Shelob's name, he had heard Ungoliant's name from the two wizards, Gandalf and Radagast.
If Arthur remembered correctly, Ungoliant was an evil deity, which meant this large spider, disguised as a human woman, was the offspring of a deity.
Then it was no wonder she could save Black Hand from the aftermath of the Godslayer's Greatsword.
But why would Ungoliant's offspring help Sauron's minion? This was something he couldn't figure out.
If Shelob and Sauron had allied, then she should have attacked when he hadn't discovered her, instead of saving Black Hand and then doing nothing.
Arthur secretly raised his guard against Shelob to the maximum, then looked at Black Hand, who was lying on the ground half-dead and smoking, trying to extract some information from Shelob: "You said this person has a mission unfinished. What mission is worth you saving his life?"
Shelob maintained a forced smile, intending to bluff: "I'm not sure about the specific situation, but he does bear a very important mission. Can you temporarily let him go? What do you want, tons of gold or diamonds? Or the deployment of these orcs in Mordor? I can satisfy you."
You're not clear but you're risking your life to save him, right? And you're willing to exchange treasure and intelligence for his life.
Arthur indicated that he didn't believe it at all.
So, while letting Torrent slowly advance, he replied: "What if I said I'm only interested in powerful strength?"
Shelob's smile deepened: "Then all the more reason to let him go."
But Arthur sneered: "Heh, is that what you call not knowing his mission?"
Shelob's expression changed, and her smile vanished: "I genuinely want to cooperate with you, but you're trying to trick me?"
Arthur, at some point, had already gripped his catalyst for Prayers and shook his head lightly at Shelob: "From the beginning, you've been disguising your true face in front of me, and you've been vague about my questions. Now you're blaming me for trying to trick you? That's a bit too ridiculous."
Shelob was about to say something else when she saw Arthur suddenly straighten his arm and make a strange gesture, and golden light emanated from his body.
But she didn't feel any pain, which made Shelob tilt her head, unsure of what the other party was doing.
Shelob moved her hind legs, and just as she was about to say something, she suddenly froze, looking down to see her bristly spider legs.
Shelob's compound eyes showed shock and ferocity as she looked at Arthur, who was coldly staring at her, her voice no longer the sweet and seductive tone of her human form, but hoarse: "What did you do to me?"
Arthur pulled Torrent's reins, and the Godslayer's Greatsword in his hand directly struck Shelob, who had revealed her massive spider body: "A small spell, I hope you don't mind."
"Clang--"
Shelob raised her foreleg, and it collided with the Godslayer's Greatsword, emitting a metallic sound.
However, before Shelob could react, Arthur increased the force in his hand, and the sharp blade of the Godslayer's Greatsword sliced off Shelob's foreleg.
No kidding, the Godslayer's Greatsword had been strengthened to its limit by Arthur, so how could Shelob's foreleg block it?
He hadn't used much force initially, wanting to trick Shelob, but he didn't expect her to actually dare to use her unprotected foreleg to clash head-on with the Godslayer's Greatsword.
Arthur was probably filled with a comical sense of "You actually blocked it with your hand" at that moment.
Shelob let out a hoarse cry of pain, spitting out black poisonous mist, instantly engulfing Arthur's surroundings in darkness.
"You despicable wizard!"
The large spider's curses echoed in Arthur's ears, but he ignored them, charging towards the spot where Black Hand was lying half-dead, according to his memory.
And Melina, with tacit understanding, swung light blades in all directions, confusing Shelob into thinking their next target was herself.
Shelob detected the holy power on the light blades and quickly spat out more poisonous mist, hiding her massive body within the black haze.
At the same time, her plump abdomen also began to spray spider silk towards the surrounding wasteland. Once Torrent stepped into it, he would be stuck by the silk, making it difficult to move.
But Shelob waited for a long time and still didn't see Arthur arrive, until she heard Black Hand's dying scream, then she paused, and then furiously said: "You actually dared to kill him! I will corrode you with my venomous sting until not even your bones remain!"
Arthur still ignored Shelob, waving the Godslayer's Greatsword and unleashing a Golden Wave towards the black poisonous mist area where Shelob was hidden.
Shelob saw the golden flames appear again, and her eyes flashed with horror, directly leaping out of the black mist.
Seeing this, Arthur simply rode Torrent, silently repeating his Battle Skill towards where Shelob had landed.
Shelob: ?
The large spider had just landed on the ground, her feet not yet stable, when she was forced to jump again to avoid the golden flames.
This time, Shelob jumped to a place further away from Arthur, and then she heard the human's mocking voice: "Why are you dodging?"
Shelob said in exasperation: "If you're so capable, don't use that strange sword in your hand."
To Shelob's surprise, Arthur actually nodded and agreed: "Alright."
In Shelob's gaze, she saw the strange sword in the human's hand disappear, replaced by a staff adorned with blue gems.
Then Arthur pointed the staff at her, and a torrent of azure light suddenly filled all of her eyes.