55 Retreat
After running through the forest for some time, they reached a cliffside, and Hella turned towards the squad.
"Keep in mind, while the Arachnix isn't that strong in direct combat, it has an army at its disposal," she instructed.
"Plus, there's a chance that reinforcements might arrive while we're in combat. If that happens, we'll withdraw without hesitation."
The interconnected nature of the caves meant that another Arachnix could potentially pick up on the sounds of battle. These creatures were territorial, and encountering humans would likely trigger them to launch a coordinated attack together.
After receiving nods of approval from all of them, they took the ropes strapped to their suits and began lowering themselves into the cave.
Using flying artifacts to descend into a cave where a beast could emerge at any moment was risky, having a stable handhold being a safer choice.
Upon entering the dark cave, where their visibility was nonexistent, Hella retrieved a spherical object from her storage ring. Infusing it with mana, the ball emitted a radiant glow, illuminating their surroundings. It hovered behind the group as they ventured deeper into the cave.
Atticus looked at the artifact in intrigue, and Sophie seemed to notice his curiosity. She offered an explanation, "Those are known as Lumin crystals. By infusing a small amount of mana into them, they emit light."
Atticus nodded in appreciation. 'I really need to learn more about these artifacts,' he thought.
Their footsteps echoed against the rocky floor as they continued their path deeper into the cave. The interior of the cave presented a mesmerizing blend of textures and shapes.
Stalactites hung like frozen icicles from the ceiling, while stalagmites rose like ancient sentinels from the ground. The occasional drip of water echoed through the cave, as if nature itself was composing a mysterious symphony.
After a few minutes of walking, they reached a large space within the cave with brightly lit rocks embedded on the walls, providing visibility to the area.
There, Atticus laid eyes on the largest and most grotesque spider he had ever seen in his life – a massive Arachnix rested on a vast web in the center of the space.
It had a sleek and iridescent exoskeleton that shimmered with hues ranging from deep purples to vibrant blues. The creature possessed eight long, delicate legs that enabled it to traverse even the most treacherous terrain with uncanny grace, and numerous eerie purple eyes.
'I'm glad I'm not afraid of spiders,' Atticus couldn't help but comment inwardly.
The massive Arachnix had not noticed them yet. Hella motioned for the others to stop at the entrance of the clearing. She lifted her hands, her voice was barely audible as she whispered, "Sophie, see if you can hit it from here."
Sophie acknowledged the instruction with a nod. She deftly nocked an arrow, drew the bowstring, and focused on her mana.
She then muttered, "Falcon Strike," and the arrow immediately radiated a blue light. Focusing on one of the creature's many eyes, she released the arrow with remarkable swiftness.
However, just as the arrow left the bowstring, the Arachnix's acute senses detected the projectile. Swiftly pivoting, it repositioned itself, evading the incoming arrow by moving away from its initial spot.
"It's spotted us! Form up and attack!" Hella's command immediately rang out as soon as she saw the failed attack.
In an instant, Helodor surged forward with his shield, Hella and Nate following closely behind him. Meanwhile, Sophie continued to fire arrows, and Atticus assumed his usual protective stance by her side.
'I can't wait to start hunting on my own. These past few weeks have been quite dull,' Atticus thought inwardly. He had been unable to use his full abilities during group missions. Although he would use his full power if necessary, he'd rather not openly display his full strength.
He needed to face the beasts alone to truly assess how much he'd grown. These weeks had felt like a mere waiting period, and he looked forward to their conclusion.
'Today's the last day,' he thought with anticipation.
At the forefront, the confrontation had escalated to a new level as the massive Arachnix attempted to trap the group using its sticky webs. Helodor stepped forward, his massive shield raised, effectively blocking the web projectiles that shot from the spider's abdomen.
Amidst the chaos, Hella's voice cut through the commotion, "Shoot the webs it's standing on!" she commanded, directing Sophie's attention to the threads the spider was standing on.
Sophie responded quickly, drawing her bow and releasing mana-imbued arrows toward the webs.
The Arachnix's response was immediate and startling – it emitted a piercing shriek, and immediately, the sounds of something breaking could be heard around the cave.
The group knew what was coming; the Arachnix's eggs had begun to hatch.
A swarm of tiny Arachnix, equally as grotesque as their mother, emerged from the eggs, scurrying in all directions. Hella's voice rang out again, "Maintain formation! And Sophie, keep shooting the webs!"
Atticus observed as the horde of baby Arachnix rushed toward him. Reacting with precise and calculated movements, he dispatched them with swift slashes of his katana.
Each spider that came within his reach was sliced cleanly in two, his blade moving with a fluid grace that belied his strength.
Atticus had grown accustomed to fighting beasts over the past month, and what used to require mental preparation and planning had become almost instinctual for him. He was confident that he could single-handedly kill the Arachnix and her babies if he got serious.
'This is not the strength a first-year should have,' Sophie thought as she watched Atticus's prowess in action. She couldn't help but admire his exceptional abilities and power.
'He's really strong. And he's quite handsome too. Wait, hold on, he's my cousin!' She mentally scolded herself for such fleeting thoughts, swiftly redirecting her focus back to the task at hand – shooting webs.
'Although, people do marry their cousins these days, right?' her mind ventured again, only to be met with a firm mental rebuke. 'What the heck are you even thinking, Sophie!?' she chastised herself, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Shaking off her momentary distraction, she redoubled her efforts, shooting arrows with heightened determination and a renewed flush of embarrassment.
As the battle raged on, Sophie continued to heed Hella's instructions. Her arrows flew with accuracy, striking down the remaining webs that the spider had woven. With each impact, the threads snapped and crumbled.
With time, Sophie's focused archery managed to take down the last of the webs.
As Sophie shot the last web, the Arachnix fell down with a loud thud. "Attack! Don't let it recover!" Hella shouted.
In a swift maneuver, Hella propelled herself through the air toward the Arachnix. Infusing her sword with mana, she swung it deftly and severed one of the Arachnix's legs. The creature emitted a piercing screech that reverberated throughout the cave, forcing everyone to cover their ears due to the intensity.
Amidst the chaos, Nate leaped into action, attacking the Arachnix and hitting it on the head with his broadsword, eliciting another painful screech. Just as Hella was about to sever another leg of the Arachnix they were battling, a shrill shriek pierced the air.
But this cry didn't originate from the Arachnix they were fighting.
The group immediately swiveled their attention to witness another massive Arachnix emerging from a different exit.
Hella's command was immediate and decisive, "Retreat!"
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