The air grew thick and heavy as we stepped further into the chamber. Webs crisscrossed the space, some hanging like curtains from the high ceiling. The faint glimmer of blue light reflected off the sticky strands, casting eerie shadows across the cavern walls.
"Stay alert," Leon whispered, tightening his grip on his sword. "The boss should be near. I can feel it… something big."
I felt my pulse quicken, the adrenaline from my new level 35 strength coursing through my veins. Every sense was heightened — my sword felt lighter, my shield firmer, my body ready.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A low, guttural hiss echoed through the cavern. From the shadows, the Spider Queen emerged. Her body was massive — at least ten times the size of any spider we had faced before. Her eyes glowed a sinister red, and her mandibles clicked menacingly. Thick strands of web dripped from her limbs, some already coated in the remains of previous victims.
"She's huge…" Lily muttered, holding her fire torch steady.
"She's fast too," Ronan added, nocking an arrow in his bow. "Aim for the eyes. That's usually the weak spot."
I tightened my grip on my shield and sword. Crimson Blade… ready. I whispered to myself.
The Spider Queen lunged, the ground shaking as she hit it with her massive legs. I jumped just in time, swinging my shield to block one of her strikes, then countered with a swift slash. Sparks flew as my A-rank Crimson Blade cut through one of her armored legs.
"Watch the webs!" Leon shouted. "She can trap us!"
The cavern erupted into chaos as the battle began. Fire spells from Lily lit up the chamber, Ronan's arrows struck with precision, and I found myself moving fluidly, my shield and sword a deadly extension of my body.
Level 35— Strength +2, Agility +2, Vitality +2.
I grinned slightly. This was what I had trained for. This was the moment where all my experience, all my past battles through Arthur's Manual, truly mattered.
The Spider Queen towered over us, ten times bigger than anything we had faced before. Her long, spindly legs swung with terrifying speed, slicing the air with each movement. Without warning, she jumped at us, her massive limbs creating gusts of wind so strong that I had to plant my shield firmly to block the impact.
The force of her swing sent a shockwave through the ground. Dust and small debris flew, and my teammates staggered slightly.
"Too strong…" Lily whispered, her eyes wide.
Leon gritted his teeth, pushing past the fear. "We can do this! Stay focused!" he shouted, charging forward with his sword drawn.
Ronan fired arrows continuously from behind, aiming for the weak points in her armor. Each strike landed, but the spider's tough exoskeleton absorbed most of the damage.
I kept my shield steady, deflecting every massive swing, feeling the ground tremble beneath us. The Spider Queen's attack wasn't just raw strength — it was strategy, anticipation, and sheer power. Every wave of wind her arms created threatened to throw us off balance, but I tightened my stance, ready to strike at the right moment.
The battle had truly begun — every movement required focus, teamwork, and a careful eye on her unpredictable attacks.
Lily clenched her fists, her face pale but determined. "Buy me time!" she shouted.
Leon immediately understood, blocking the Spider Queen's leg with his sword, sparks flying from the collision. Ronan kept firing arrows to distract the beast, and I stood my ground, shielding them from the incoming attacks.
Lily began chanting, her mana swirling violently around her. The air grew heavy — this wasn't an ordinary spell.
"She's using it…" Leon muttered under his breath.
Only the Ardent family could cast such a spell — a forbidden technique passed down through generations. An S-Rank magic, feared even by nobles and scholars alike.
"Ardent Fire: Lotus Bloom!" Lily screamed, her voice echoing through the cavern.
A lotus made entirely of crimson flame blossomed in her hands, glowing with divine heat. The Spider Queen, sensing danger, hissed and curled her enormous legs to shield herself. Even that monstrous creature could feel the threat.
The fireball erupted from Lily's hands, exploding with a thunderous boom that shook the entire cave.
"Get behind me!" I shouted, raising my shield just as the flames engulfed everything.
The explosion expanded outward like a fiery storm — there was nowhere to run. Lily and the others crouched behind me, and instinctively, my body moved on its own.
A brilliant light burst from my shield — "Barrier of Barraks!"
A massive dome of glowing energy spread out, blocking the roaring flames. The heat was overwhelming, but the barrier held. The fire tried to consume everything, yet inside the light, we stood untouched.
When the fire finally faded, smoke and ash filled the cavern. My shield dimmed, cracks forming from the strain — but we were safe.