Spiders, the eight-legged arthropods, are present almost everywhere on Earth. They are rather passive animals. Typically, this species spins silk into a web almost invisible to ordinary insects. When prey gets caught and stuck, the predator approaches, injects venom, and devours it. From there, people often imagine giant spiders in fantasy worlds spinning enormous webs. With extremely high tensile strength, five times stronger than steel of the same weight, plus industrial superglue-like adhesion if magnified many times, getting stuck in a web made of fibers 100 times thicker than usual is tantamount to a death sentence.
Terrifying.
However, that's actually an unrealistic assumption.
First off, regarding getting trapped, if spider silk were strong enough to withstand human strength, it would certainly be visible to the naked eye. What one should fear is being cut by the silk itself due to its high elasticity, rather than getting stuck in it. Besides, to create a thread 100 times thicker and a spider 100 times longer, according to the Square-Cube Law, their volume and weight would increase by a million times. With an average weight of 15 grams, increasing a million times would make the spider weigh 15 tons. Practically speaking, that silk wouldn't be strong enough to hold a spider capable of spinning webs to catch humans.
So, instead of spinning webs, when I came to this world, I learned about spider monsters attacking humans by 'spraying silk' in bundles instead of trying to set traps. It's quite an effective and extremely scientific method. And indeed, the size of those spiders is only about the size of a wolf at most.
From there, I never thought a giant spider could exist in the world.
However, I forgot about the existence of something on Earth, a spider species that doesn't need to spin webs or spray silk. They hunt like a true predator.
The giant huntsman spider—the largest spider species in the world. With long and flexible legs, they move at horrifying speeds; if calculated by the ratio of speed to body length, they are even faster than cheetahs.
For that reason, they have an absurdly high hunting success rate.
Now that damn thing is right in front of my eyes, with a body the size of a bull. With 8 legs now clearly visible, it must be as big as a walking house.
And it just bit off the head of the person who seemed to have the best defense in the entire team, with just a single strike.
Gangton's blood poured out non stop. His body is streaking, trying to fight back weaker and weaker by each second then eventually, it stops moving.
A person just dies like that.
What the hell…
My whole body froze, my legs began to tremble. I have seen a dead body before. It was terrifying. But seeing someone dying in front of my own eyes, it's something more than just a word can describe.
In just a flash of mind, I was thinking this is my end.
"Run! Now!"
Without waiting for me to react to his words, Ken immediately grabbed my collar and dragged me away at a speed I had never seen him use before.
Ken's feet glided as if they weren't touching the ground. No rustling, clattering, or rattling sounds even though he was wearing metal armor.
But that still wasn't enough.
Besides horrifying speed and attack power, huntsman spiders have fine hairs on their bodies capable of sensing movement in the air. From there, it can predict the target's movement and move before the prey can even react. So as soon as Ken grabbed my collar, one of its eight giant legs raised up.
*Thud*
Decisively, one of its legs stabbed straight into the ground, right behind our backs. Sharp claws pierced through the ground as if a knife cutting through a birthday cake.
The only reason that giant spider continued to charge and attack like a tank is that huntsman spiders are ambush predators with not-so-great stamina. If we just keep our distance, we'll be safe.
Not only that, the ground around us began to shake.
A chilling screech rang out, and a series of sharp spikes thrust up from the ground. Ken and I quickly dodged them. But unfortunately, Pikiki wasn't so lucky; the mage was impaled, cut from waist to neck. She tried to cast a spell but was stomped flat by another spider leg, crushed like a bug just squashed.
It uses... magic!? And that spell must be Advanced-tier at minimum!
Immediately following that was another spell. A series of stone walls rose up, blocking the escape route.
"Ken!" I shouted as the ground continued to shake.
Ken seemed to understand; he stopped immediately, just a split second before a sharp earth spike thrust up in front of both of us.
We changed direction; the path to the nearest cave entrance was blocked. However, neither Ken nor I had any intention of moving straight to where that damn spider wanted to herd us.
Ken quickly drew his sword. A single slash was enough to sever the surrounding spikes. He jumped up a bit, standing on the cut surface for leverage, aiming for the lowest point of the wall to throw me straight over to the other side.
Everything happened too fast. I couldn't even finish a breath.
"Ha..."
I landed on a pile of giant eggs. The sacs containing fluid burst, spraying a disgusting scent. But I no longer felt anything about them. Every nerve, every sense of mine was screaming, unanimously telling this body to stand up immediately.
My ears were ringing. All I could see was a towering stone wall and the ground shaking madly. Rocks and soil began to fall, stalactites pierced the eggs about to hatch, pieces of ant corpses flew everywhere, making everything look chaotic.
But I didn't care about that damn stuff.
"Ken!"
I shouted, trying to call the name of the old knight who just threw me.
"I'm fine!" Thank god for the response. "Quickly find a small enough cave!"
I frantically looked around as instructed. This place was pitch black; the dim light from the mushrooms had been extinguished when crushed by falling rocks. But darkness had never been something that troubled me.
Calm down. Please! Calm down… Calm… the fuck… down.
I told myself with a deep breath. Although it had been a long time since I practiced this exercise, the feeling of the days undergoing Master Reida's trials rushed back. My ears began to point out paths, choices, images that eyes couldn't see.
So I saw it, the path to escape from here. It's a clear way, small enough for just one person and the air flow proved it has a connected way to the surface.
However, I couldn't just leave like that.
The sounds of impact, the screeching of the monster, and the sound of blood flowing from corpses I couldn't see created a scene of tragedy and brutality so terrifying. I had heard Ghislaine and Paul tell about their battles with terrifying monsters. They never mentioned fighting a monster like this. But with what was recounted, I could guess this thing must be A-rank or even S-rank.
Even fighting a Terminate Boar exhausted me, and it was only rated D or C rank. So meeting something like this huntsman spider, running away is the only way. As Paul once said, if you encounter a battle you can't win, the best way is to run.
"Just like how I escaped from the Water God."
Or Ken himself just told me to run. My whole body was trembling, screaming that the only way now was to turn back and flee.
"No..."
But no.
I made a promise to myself. And I will keep that damn promise.
I won't run away. I'm not that cowardice bitch who is useless in the damn sewer! Not anymore!
What was the point of practicing swordsmanship, researching magic, constantly sparring with others if I just ran away at times like this?
"I must not… run away."
I told myself, trying to stand up. The pain from the impact, the scream of that monster just like a hammer to slam me back to the floor and crawl away.
Thump!*
But I still can stand up, with the help of the Lion's Tongue. I hold the sword with all my strength and now I can stand with my own two feet.
"Let's go…" I said that to myself.
And now I start to move. I move towards the wall protecting me from the battle on the other side. Each step was heavy and laborious, as if carrying tons of weight. But only the first steps were the hardest; with every meter I got closer, my legs became strangely lighter. Although there was no clanking sound, it seemed the chains named cowardice were gradually loosening.
Am I afraid of death?
Oh of course. I was scared to the point of nausea. That is the most primal defense mechanism of every living creature. The antelope runs because it fears being eaten by the lion. Or the mouse hides because it fears the cat.
But the fear of death can also manifest differently.
Like the wildebeest using its horns to attack predators. Or zebras kicking crocodiles with their hind legs.
That is resistance. Fighting. Also a kind of instinct.
I am human. I know fear, I don't want to die, I've died once and somehow I got another chance to live again. I can't let it be wasted that easily. I should have run away. But because I don't want to die, I truly don't want to. I can't run away even more.
I need someone to protect me when I sleep, I need someone to fight by my side, ensuring nothing appears right behind my back.
That is human nature, fearful, yet willing to fight for each other. Because no human can live alone, not in a fucking labyrith!
I still want to live. I will marry a wife, marry my cute beautiful Eris, and have two children with fiery red hair. I'll name the son Shanks, and the daughter, if Eris doesn't claim the right, I'll name Erza.
I want to live to 100 and pass away while holding my wife in my arms. My children and grandchildren will cry! I will have a happy life like that!
So there's no way I'm dying here!
The one who has to die is that damn spider!
Thump* Thump!*
And that is why I am here, flying in mid-air after using "Wind Push" to propel myself up the wall. This body's legs were now light as air, like when I danced with Eris; they gracefully stepped on the wall, pushed off for momentum, and leaped, propelling me further forward.
"Young master?" Ken exclaimed; this was the first time I could sense confusion radiating from him. "What the fuck are you doing!?"
To be honest; I don't know what the result of this stupid thing I'm doing will be.
I have a plan. Of course, I won't charge in and fight without a plan.
But this plan is so stupid, but it's what makes me smile a strangely bright smile. Like a mad man.
"Explosion!"
A fireball aimed straight at the spider's head exploded. The entire dark room suddenly lit up, countless rocks and stalactites continuing to fall like a late summer rain. The monster spider let out an ear-piercing screech. The smell of burnt hair made it seem like an effective hit, but in reality, the spider's skin and flesh remained intact.
But I didn't intend to use that attack to deal damage anyway.
What I wanted was attention, for those giant eyes to look towards me and...
*Thwack!*
The Lion's Tongue embedded straight into the largest eye on top of the monster's head. Utilizing the falling speed of a truck, I drove straight into the target, pressing down hard with both hands to create a cut deep and long enough to slash half the spider's vision.
When deemed enough, I pulled the sword out, using the monster's own body as leverage to push myself away, hastily landing and dodging the sharp legs from the giant monster.
It went crazy.
Good.
So I started running, not running in to attack, nor running away to hide. I ran in circles, dodging every dangerous thing the creature threw at me. My sword was no longer for attacking but for parrying, to protect this meager life, while mana was continuously infused into my both hands.
"Explosion!"
Another explosion.
"Fireball!"
Then another fireball, it didn't even hit the target.
I kept throwing them continuously, everywhere as if setting off fireworks while performing a deadly dance with death.
*Reeeeeeee*
The ground shook continuously, fire continued to burn. From the glowing mushrooms to the corpses of Jikiki, Gangton, or the ant eggs, I turned everything into a sea of fire. Even my equipment, my purse, my adventure card were thrown away and burned in the fire.
Was I planning to burn that spider to death?
Well well, not at all.
Its skin is too thick and also highly fire-resistant. The first 'Explosion' proved that fire and heat are not things that can harm it effectively.
So what am I doing here? Simply making my last moments as spectacular as possible?
Sounds cool, but that's not my intention.
"Explosion!"
Another explosion rang out; the flames began to extinguish as they rose to a certain height. And that spider began to slow down visibly. Its frantic attacks weakened.
That was when I saw my plan starting to succeed.
"Hah. Just in time, I'm almost out of mana."
And that was when I changed direction. No longer running in circles, no longer trying to dodge attacks, I charged straight at the giant spider becoming sluggish.
Is it tired? That's probably a predictable assumption, but no.
Maybe it really is tired. Maybe that massive body made its muscles start to fatigue. But what truly made it gradually harmless was another reason.
Poisoning.
Not normal poison created by protein combinations like the type that spider can produce itself; it's gas poisoning. Specifically, Carbon Monoxide.
That's right, the kind of poison created by fire magic.
And as said, Carbon Monoxide is lighter than air, so it will rise, meaning things with superior height like that spider will be the first affected. Now its nervous system has probably started to paralyze.
But that's still not enough.
It can still realize the problem and lower its body close to us. And true, although it's taller than us, it's not *that* tall. It can completely lower itself to kill and move normally.
That is exactly why I am charging in like this.
*Whoosh* *Whoosh*
I dodged two leg stabs easily. Although I'm tired too, everything is much clearer now.
*Zip*
And gliding under the mouth full of sharp teeth again, I was now right under that massive body.
This will be the final step, the finishing blow.
Mana flowed into my left hand; the magic circle on my palm glowed dark brown and began to radiate onto the ground I was touching.
"Earth Pillar!"
A giant pillar of earth began to appear and rise at terrifying speed.
*Thud!*
It was pinned straight to the cave ceiling.
The giant spider screeched, trying to struggle. Its long lanky legs stabbed wildly; it tried to hit the pillar but was only pierced by a second pillar rising as my right hand began to use magic. Then a flying sword - the Lion's Tongue stabbed it right middle of the head, pinned it under the ceiling.
My mana began to run dry; my body ached to the point of paralyzing my legs. The spider also tried to struggle with its last strikes before it too became motionless.
The monster was dead. Suffocated.
An unpleasant death, but it was the only way I could kill something like it.
"Hah..."
I let out an exhausted breath. I was still conscious. My mana was just enough to perform a Wind Push to push myself away before the two Earth Pillars collapsed.
*Thump thump*
I rolled on the ground like a deflated ball before being caught by Ken himself. My vision blurred due to the darkness, but I could feel a slight smile from the man.
"Defeating an A-rank monster alone. You are truly extraordinary, Young Master Atur."
I was just lucky to know about chemistry and that this cave didn't collapse and crush us all. Otherwise, I'm a few decades of training short of truly fighting something this terrifying alone.
But a win is a win, right? I really am awesome.
I am fucking awesome!
"Ha ha ha! Just a piece of cake." I immediately boasted. "I can handle three like that! Bring in two more!"
"I hope next time you see three like that, you better run."
"If I'm alone, I'll definitely run."
I tried to stand up, but my legs refused, falling back onto the ground like a toddler learning to walk. Ken walked over slowly, not rushing at all, grabbed my collar, lifted me up, and placed me on his shoulder like a sack.
"Then that's tough. I definitely won't let you face these things alone."
"How long can you live, old man?" I smirked.
"If you keep risking your life like this then longer than you."
I find that true too. Maybe I should risk my life less?
Haha, no. If I become a coward, how can I face Eris again? I will become her hero. And defeating a giant huntsman spider alone. That's a story to tell Eris, isn't it? I'll definitely demand a kiss, hehe.
Now the monster is dead, I will find a way out of here before the poison gas gets cooled down and spreads around. The amount of Carbon Dioxide in the air much be high too so if we-
"Ugh..."
Suddenly I heard Ken's voice.
His steps suddenly became significantly slower.
I wondered why? Is he tired?
"..."
Wait... why do I suddenly feel tired too?
And my body is becoming itchy as well.
...
I raised my hand to touch my face; something was on my left cheek.
I took it out and held it in front of my face.
A spider leg spine?
...
Ah... Damn it...
It's poisonous...
...
...
Am I going to die... like this?
The smile of the god in my dream just flashes through my mind and disappears.