I charged toward the Spider, channeling sword qi and Thunderbolt into my blade.
The Spider didn't react, even though its eight red eyes had clearly registered my presence.
It's underestimating me badly.
Monsters without intelligence act purely on instinct. When facing an opponent, they instinctively assess whether it's stronger, weaker, or equal to themselves.
Most monsters don't flee even when facing stronger Hunters, but they either become passive or charge in a frenzy.
Conversely, if they deem an opponent weaker, they ignore it completely, just as the Black Howling Spider was doing to me now. It had concluded that nothing I could do would matter.
The Black Howling Spider possessed a more developed intellect than most monsters. It not only devoured the weak but also delighted in cruelly toying with its prey. Among B-Class Monsters, it was particularly malevolent.
It's probably finished wrapping that punk in its web, preparing to devour him, and now it's leisurely emerging to deal with Misa.
The spider's arrogance was infuriating, yet also welcome. It meant my chances of killing it had increased.
At a distance of three meters, I tensed my body and activated my skill.
Momentary.
My perception accelerated. The spider raised one of its forelegs. Even with Momentary active, its speed was astonishing. I was once again struck by the vast gulf between B-Class and C-Rank monsters.
I sidestepped the spider's attack, narrowly avoiding its strike.
Had it reevaluated me? The spider turned its head toward me.
Whee-oo~ Whee-oo~
The spider's mandibles twitched as it whistled.
Supporting its body on four legs, the spider raised its head and thorax. The other four sharp legs aimed at me.
Momentary!
I dodged its legs, dove under its guard, and plunged my sword into its massive abdomen. Crunch! The blade pierced through the spider's tough exoskeleton.
Dark green, viscous, foul-smelling blood gushed out.
Discharge!
Pzzzzzzzzzt!
I unleashed the full force of my Thunderbolt. Crimson Lightning surged through the spider's body, churning violently. A burning stench filled the air.
Wheeeeeeeeee!
The whistling grew shrill. Using Momentary, I withdrew my sword and retreated. I rolled across the ground but remained unscathed.
Whoosh!
The creature I'd managed to hit seemed furious.
"Sung Yujin!"
Misa shot a white beam of light at me. I didn't dodge, letting the light wash over my body and sword.
This was Misa's Hardening Enchantment, a power that increased the durability of a body or weapon for three minutes. It also provided a slight boost to physical abilities and sharpened blades.
It's not a dramatic improvement, but it's better than nothing.
The spider shot out a black web. I sprinted sideways to avoid it, reacting not to the web itself, but the instant its spinnerets aimed at me.
For nearly three minutes, the spider aimed its spinnerets at me, firing webs relentlessly. It was surprisingly stubborn and arrogant, attempting to ensnare the delinquent again with its webs.
"Bi, you bastard! Get lost! Get lost...!"
The delinquent, his legs bound by the webs, squirmed irritably.
My earlier attack worked. That's why it's firing webs instead of chasing me.
The spider's hind legs were twitching. Even a B-Class Monster would need time to recover.
"Misa! Save me! Do something to distract this spider bastard!"
"...!"
Misa didn't approach rashly. I had extended my palm toward her, signaling her to stay back.
It wasn't that she would only be a hindrance. Her help would undoubtedly make things easier.
Misa could get hurt.
And the punk's chances of being killed by the Spider would increase.
I was approaching slowly. Since the Spider's eyes were fixed on me, a stealthy approach was impossible.
"Ugh... Misa...!"
Even in this desperate situation, the punk only called for Misa. His inability to call for me must stem from his unyielding pride and hatred.
Whoosh!
The punk conjured flames in his hand. The precarious flickering suggested it was a forced, strained effort. He hurled the flames at the Spider's head.
Whoosh?!
Of course, such a paltry attack couldn't harm the Spider. But it momentarily obscured its vision, and I seized the opportunity to charge forward.
Momentary!
Whoosh!
"Gwaaaah!"
The Spider thrashed in fury. Its two front legs had pierced through the Delinquent's abdomen and thigh.
Using its front legs like that! Excellent...! You're finally being useful, punk!
Yeongcheon Style Thunderlight.
My fastest strike severed the Spider's four red crystal-like eyes.
The Spider convulsed, its eight legs flailing wildly as it searched for me, now positioned at an angle.
This is the final Momentary!
Using Momentary, I slashed the Spider's abdomen five times in rapid succession. Finally, the Spider collapsed right in the direction of the Delinquent.
"Aaaaaaaah! Get it off me! Now!"
I calmly wiped my sword as I watched the delinquent and the spider kiss. Dark green liquid dripped from the crimson blade onto the floor.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The screams were deafening. I kicked the spider off the delinquent's body. The delinquent was bound by black spiderwebs up to his thighs.
...This is pretty bad.
Ignoring the hole in his thigh, the wound in his abdomen looked critical. It was astonishing he was still alive and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Wait. The Black Howling Spider has venom in its legs, not just its webs. Shit. Why isn't he dead yet?
Could he have a power related to tenacious vitality, not just flame abilities?
"Ken!"
Misa rushed over and immediately began administering first aid.
"Yujin!"
Misa urgently called out to me. It was obvious what she wanted.
"Alright, alright."
I pulled a potion bottle from my pocket and handed it to her. The first aid had been applied, but there was no way to deal with the poison. At this rate, he wouldn't last fifteen minutes.
I do have an antidote in my inventory... but just die already.
I had no intention of helping.
"Yujin! We need to use the White Stone to escape the Maze."
"...Go ahead. I need to take care of this guy first."
I approached the spider's corpse lying nearby. Black Howling Spiders were among the most valuable B-Class Monsters. Their silk, in particular, was a highly sought-after material for hunters' armor.
Misa grabbed the delinquent and infused two White Stones with Mana.
The stones glowed, then engulfed them both. They vanished.
The delinquent is probably dead.
If they were outside, they'd be at Fuka Shrine, but the shrine is in chaos. The Barrier prevents them from leaving. Even if the Barrier were lifted, he might die during transport to a hospital.
I've used too many potions. Even if I use the shrine's potions... he needs surgery to survive.
Potions are revolutionary, but they're not perfect. They have limits, and lower-quality potions reach those limits faster.
I pray like this: Die, delinquent. Don't worry about your girlfriend. I'll be the one to cherish her instead.
I dismantled the Black Howling Spider and washed my body with fresh water. I felt uneasy using the water from the shattered fountain.
The situation outside the Maze probably isn't much better either... I should rest here for a while before moving on.
Out of habit, I retrieved the Doll from my smartphone's Inventory. Lately, I'd been doting on Koyori whenever I had the chance.
In its current state, the Doll was naked and pale as a corpse, its connection severed. In this state, it was merely a doll resembling Koyori.
Attempting connection...
Currently connected to target.
Target Synchronization Rate: High
Doll Synchronization Rate: High
Posture Synchronization Rate: High
Voice: ON
The Doll warmed to the touch, and clothes materialized on its naked body. Then, it collapsed face-down on the floor.
"Huh...? Th-this is insane...!"
I was so shocked I nearly dropped my smartphone.
The Doll connected to Koyori was in a terrible state.
Both arms had been severed, cleanly sliced off at the forearms by a sharp blade. Through the severed ends, I could see what looked like human muscle, bone, and flesh.
Her legs were no better. The left leg had been cut off at the ankle, while the right leg was shattered at the knee, the lower leg bent at a sharp angle.
Worst of all, there was a deep gash across her back, so severe that some of her internal organs were protruding.
I checked the Doll's pulse.
Koyori was still alive, but there was no reason to rejoice. She was barely clinging to life, her wide-open eyes growing increasingly lifeless.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on here?!"
I tapped my smartphone to bring up Koyori's screen. She was lying unconscious on the ground. Meanwhile, Kouga Mio had split into two figures and was battling someone wielding a Japanese sword.
As expected of Kouga's greatest kunoichi prodigy. She's proving difficult to handle with just one arm.
It was a man's voice, speaking in Japanese. The camera was focused on Koyori, so I couldn't get a good look at the man's face. But I could tell he was wearing a kimono and didn't seem to be in his right mind.
My mind raced. He was likely a criminal affiliated with Baekrim.
Damn it! This isn't the time for this!
I retrieved a box from my Inventory, a container for my most vital possessions. Inside, I found a small bottle filled with a liquid resembling red wine, about half the size of a yogurt drink.
Elixir
Restores all wounds and cures all status ailments. Also heals congenital disabilities and diseases.
Price: 15,000 Points
?Caution
The bottle contains the exact dosage of the Elixir. The entire amount must be consumed at once for full effectiveness.
I can't let her die before I even get to taste her!
The Elixir was something I'd obtained during a random draw in the past, along with the Fountain of Youth and an Affinity Level-Up Ticket. It was a day when my luck had hit an all-time high.
...Ugh.
I hesitated for a moment, but only briefly.
I haven't taken Koyori's virginity yet! And Mio was slowly falling for me... I can't lose two beauties so easily! Besides, I haven't even used the Sex Doll I suffered so much to get in that hellish world to my satisfaction!
I pressed the Elixir bottle to the Doll's lips.
Target Synchronization Rate: Highest
The Target Synchronization Rate measures the Doll's influence on its target. If I hit the Doll, Koyori feels the pain. If I make the Doll drink water or medicine, Koyori takes it in as well.
In other words, anything the Doll drinks is passed on to Koyori. If the Doll drinks the Elixir, Koyori drinks it too!
I was certain of this.
I'd already confirmed that the connection carried ordinary food and drink to Koyori as well. Water and potions given to the Doll had ended up in her stomach.
The problem was that I hadn't tried anything this potent before. In the worst-case scenario, I might end up wasting the Elixir.
Water, potions, Elixirs... they're all the same!
With Koyori dying, I pushed aside these useless thoughts and let the Doll swallow the Elixir so Koyori could receive it.
"..."
Koyori was depressed. Though her appearance remained unchanged, she spoke far less than usual.
What was making her so gloomy was an invisible "something" that kept harassing her. Even after a full day, I couldn't determine whether it was a curse, an invisible man, or a ghost.
"Ugh..."
Koyori, who had been walking steadily, flinched. With her free hand, she pressed down on her red skirt, which kept threatening to flip up.
"Lady Koyori...! Is it... 'Silence' again?!"
"...Yes."
"I'll... stay back, then."
"You know that's pointless. 'Silence' wants Lady Mio to look at me. It's probably trying to humiliate me."
The harassment from a few hours earlier was about to repeat itself.
"Lady Mio... please cooperate. If you don't look at me, 'Silence' will humiliate me again."
"...I understand."
Koyori let out a heavy sigh and composed herself again.