Outside, a scene of devastation unfolded. The giant 'Spider King' was crushing the mine guards like toys. Taking advantage of the chaos, the dust, and the screams, Vikram and Master Yu slipped like shadows into the tunnel from which the monster had emerged.
The atmosphere inside was starkly different from the outside.
The tunnel walls were coated in a blue, viscous substance that emitted a faint glow. A sweet yet toxic scent hung in the air.
"Cover your nose," Master Yu warned. "This is spider venom. If you inhale too much, your lungs will turn to stone."
Vikram tore a strip from his shirt and tied it over his mouth. They advanced quickly but cautiously. After venturing about 500 meters deep, they reached a massive, cavernous chamber.
This was the spider's main nest.
Hundreds of silken cocoons hung from the ceiling, with pulsating spider eggs inside them. But Vikram's gaze was not fixed on the eggs; instead, it locked onto a raised stone platform in the center of the chamber.
A human skeleton lay there.
This was no ordinary laborer. The skeleton was encased in black armor that still gleamed, despite being shattered in several places. Spiderwebs held it fast, as if it were displayed like a trophy.
"Impossible..." Master Yu's voice trembled. He limped toward the platform. "This armor... look at this insignia. It is the Royal Seal of the 'Dark Moon Sector'. How did a warrior like this die here?"
Vikram had no interest in history. His eyes were focused on the skeleton's right hand, which clutched a black metal plate tightly against its chest. It looked as if he had been guarding this object even in his final moments.
"Sorry, friend," Vikram whispered, prying the black plate from the skeleton's bony fingers.
As soon as the plate touched his hand, he felt a strange chill. The metal was neither like iron nor gold. It was surprisingly heavy.
The System's voice echoed in Vikram's mind:
[Unknown material detected.]
[Scanning... Ancient data records found.]
[Item: 'Legacy Tablet of the Shadow Killer']
[Content: An ancient 'Hyper Geno Art' - 'Void Slash'. Status: Damaged, but legible.]
Greed glinted in Vikram's eyes. "A Hyper Geno Art! And one connected to the 'Void' at that."
He looked at Master Yu, who was still inspecting the armor.
"Master, we found it," Vikram said, showing the black plate. "But I think this armor is valuable too."
Master Yu nodded. "This is 'Black-Steel' alloy. If we can melt it down, excellent weapons can be forged from it. But..."
Suddenly, a chittering sound echoed through the cave.
Vikram and the Master both froze. The sound was coming from the ceiling.
Vikram looked up. The cocoons he had thought were eggs were moving. Perhaps the commotion caused by the Spider King, or maybe the disturbance from Vikram touching the 'Legacy Tablet,' had awakened them.
A cocoon burst, and a spider the size of a football fell down. It wasn't fully developed, but its mandibles looked just as venomous.
Hiss!
One after another, dozens of cocoons began to burst. Hundreds of small spiders started raining down.
"Run!" Vikram shouted.
But as they turned, a massive shadow loomed over the exit.
It wasn't the 'Spider King', but its guardian—an 'Elite Blue-Blood Spider', the size of an ox. It had likely been left behind to guard the nest.
An Elite spider in front, thousands of hungry hatchlings behind. They were trapped.
Vikram pocketed the black plate and picked up a broken, yet sharp, long blade lying next to the skeleton.
"Master," Vikram said, assuming his battle stance. "Do you have that 'blasting powder' we use to break rocks in the mine?"
Master Yu fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. "Yes, but it's not much."
A glint of madness appeared in Vikram's eyes. "It's enough. I'll handle the big spider. You use that powder to clear a path!"
Author Note: "If you like the story, please vote with Power Stones! It helps me write faster."