Ready for the Hunt ?

Six days had passed since Arthur reincarnated into this world, and three days since he met the beetle and started working with him.

"Shoot…" Standing at the edge of the top ground, Arthur shot his web again towards the wall he couldn't reach the last time he tried. This time, the web attached perfectly.

"Yes!" Arthur yelled, finally seeing that he could shoot his web that far after three days of practice.

On the same top ground near Arthur's broken egg, beneath the straight pillar that connected the top ground he was standing on to the dungeon ceiling, the beetle sat with a blank expression, observing Arthur's achievement. After seeing Arthur's success, the beetle closed his eyes again to rest. Near him, a small bonfire burned. Inside the fire, raw meat hung on sticks, cooking slowly.

Arthur glanced back at the beetle after successfully attaching his web to the wall. Seeing the beetle resting, Arthur turned his head and shot the other end of the same web toward the wall. However, it fell halfway between Arthur and the wall.

"Well, not bad," he muttered, realizing it was much better than his first try three days ago.

He turned and started walking toward the bonfire, where the meat was cooking. Since the beetle was near the fire resting, it opened its eyes as Arthur approached.

Seeing the beetle awake and gazing at him didn't bother Arthur.

"I finally managed to shoot my web to the wall I was aiming for," Arthur said with a smile.

"Only four days left. After that, we need to go down," the beetle replied, walking a little closer to the bonfire.

"Yes…" Arthur replied casually.

After meeting the beetle, Arthur had been practicing his skills and trying to grow stronger to survive in the dungeon and become more powerful.

"Kai," Arthur said. Kai was the beetle's name. Three days ago, after bringing food, the beetle had exchanged names with Arthur.

Hearing his name, Kai, who was gazing at the burning flames, turned his head toward Arthur with a blank face and responded, "What is it?"

"Nothing!" Arthur replied.

"Are you joking with me?" Kai asked in a serious tone, glaring at Arthur.

"No, I am not," Arthur replied calmly.

"Ha… then why did you call me?" Kai asked.

"I just felt like it, that's all," Arthur answered.

Hearing Arthur's reply, Kai remained silent for a while. After a moment, he said, "If it's nothing important, don't talk to me," in a serious voice.

"Okay…" Arthur replied with a slight smile.

Arthur wasn't afraid of Kai anymore because, after three days of living with him, he finally understood that Kai wasn't a bad person. Though a bit scary, Kai wasn't trying to kill him. Slowly, Arthur had started trying to talk to him. Most of the time, Kai ignored him, but he didn't attack him. Arthur was happy to have someone whose goal also involved evolving into a greater being and becoming powerful.

Suddenly, Arthur realized something and quickly spoke up.

"Kai?"

'Is he playing with me, or is he not taking me seriously? I guess I made a mistake choosing this spider,' Kai thought, sensing Arthur's unusual behavior.

"What is it?" Kai asked, glancing at the meat cooking over the bonfire.

"If you didn't want to kill me, why did you attack me by throwing me at the pillar and knocking me unconscious?" Arthur asked, unable to understand Kai's earlier actions.

"Because you weren't listening to me," Kai answered.

'What? This beetle is an idiot,' Arthur thought, his face showing confusion and shock at Kai's reply.

"What if I had died from that punch?" Arthur asked.

"Then you would have died. That means you're weak," Kai replied emotionlessly, still glaring at the meat cooking on the fire.

Arthur was shocked again, thinking, 'I hope my gut feeling about him not being a bad person is right, or he'll kill me.'

"Eat. We're going hunting soon," Kai said, grabbing the stick holding the meat. Arthur noticed that Kai grabbed the stick directly from the fire as if the flames didn't affect him.

"What? We have time, right? Four more days before we go down?" Arthur replied.

"You've never been to the bottom. You don't have any fighting experience. We can't take that risk. You might die on the spot when the tenth day comes. That's why, before we leave this place, you need to learn how to fight," Kai explained, emphasizing the importance of real combat experience before their journey.

Hearing Kai, Arthur knew he was right. Without experience, he might die immediately.

"So, what do I need to do?" Arthur asked, his face filled with worry.

"You have to kill," Kai replied, looking straight at Arthur.

"Well, that's not a problem. I'll kill anyone who dares to stand in my way. Haha… wait, what?" Arthur reacted in shock at his own words.

Hearing Arthur's sudden declaration, Kai was stunned. Although his expression didn't change, he was shocked. He had known Arthur since he was born but never thought the spider would be so bloodthirsty. Kai couldn't understand Arthur's sudden change in behavior.

"No, I didn't mean to say that," Arthur quickly explained, looking at Kai, trying to clarify his slip of the tongue.

Hearing Arthur's explanation, Kai became more confused. He knew the spider hadn't shown any signs of bloodlust since emerging from the egg, so why was he acting like this now?

'Ahhh… What's happening to me? Am I changing?' Arthur thought in confusion. This wasn't the first time he had reacted like this.

Kai looked at Arthur, deep in thought. "Let's eat," Kai finally said.

"Oh, yes," Arthur replied, focusing on the food and ignoring what had just happened.

While eating the meat cooked on the fire, Arthur remembered what the spirit ally had told him three days ago. When he asked how he could escape from or survive against the beetle, the spirit ally replied that he needed to find a new ability. By acquiring this ability using his Death Eater skill, Arthur's chances of survival against the beetle would increase.

"When are we going hunting?" Arthur asked while eating, looking at Kai.

"After we finish this," Kai replied, indicating they would leave right after their meal.

Hearing that they were leaving so soon, Arthur was shocked but knew he had no choice.

"Done. I'm ready. Let's go," Arthur said in a determined voice, finishing his last bite of meat.