Chapter 19: Arachne

A grin spreads across his face. "Level 50? That's it? A hundred level 50s might look intimidating, but against me?" He shakes his head, drawing his sword with a smooth, deliberate motion.

"Even if there were a thousand of you, it wouldn't matter," he says, his voice calm and confident. "But I'll admit, it's been a while since I had a proper warm-up."

Alix takes a deep breath and activates his first tier 2 skill, Iron Vanguard. A faint silver aura surrounds him, hardening his muscles and skin. His body feels like a fortress, unyielding and indomitable. "Let's start with a solid defense. Can't have you scratching my skin."

The spiders screech, their limbs clattering against the stone as they charge toward him.

"Next, Raging Force," Alix mutters, activating the second skill. A rush of power courses through him, doubling his physical strength. His grip tightens on his sword, the weapon feeling lighter in his hands.

The swarm closes in, but Alix remains calm, activating his third skill, Blinding Reflexes. His vision sharpens, and time seems to slow around him. The erratic movements of the spider monsters are now predictable, their every lunge and twitch easily tracked.

A spider leaps from the ceiling, aiming straight for his back. Without even looking, Alix pivots and slices it in half mid-air.

"One down."

As more of them close in, he activates his fourth skill, Endless Stamina. A wave of energy floods his body, erasing any sense of fatigue.

The final skill, Titan's Grip, comes next. His sword glows faintly, and he feels its weight increase, matching his enhanced strength. Each swing now carries devastating power, capable of cleaving through multiple enemies in a single strike.

The first wave of spiders reaches him, and Alix moves. His sword becomes a blur as he slices through the horde with precision and efficiency. Chitin shatters, and monsters screech as they fall, their black blood splattering the chamber floor.

A spider lunges for his legs, but Alix sidesteps and brings his blade down, splitting it cleanly in two. Another tries to flank him, but with his reflexes heightened, he spins and decapitates it in one fluid motion.

"Damn, this is nice," he said. "Though it's my first time killing something, I didn't feel anything at all."

The monsters press harder, swarming from all sides. Alix leaps into the air, avoiding a coordinated attack, and slams back down with enough force to send a shockwave rippling through the ground. Several spiders are thrown back, their legs snapping under the impact.

As the horde begins to thin, Alix stands tall, his aura still shimmering around him. His breathing is steady, his movements unrelenting. The last spider hesitates, its red eyes flickering as if debating whether to attack. Alix points his blade at it.

"Go ahead. Don't be shy."

The spider screeches and charges, but Alix doesn't let it get close. With a single swing, he bisects it, the creature collapsing in a heap. The cavern falls silent, save for the distant drip of water and the faint hum of his buffs still active.

Sheathing his sword, Alix looks around at the carnage. The floor is littered with monster remains, the once-glimmering chamber now a battlefield.

"That was… fun," he says, cracking his neck.

Before Alix can savor his victory, a voice echoes through the chamber. "You are strong. Who are you? I've never seen or heard of you. Are you a new monster king?"

Alix's hand instinctively moves to his sword hilt as his eyes dart toward the source of the voice. From above, descending gracefully on a thin, glistening thread of silk, a figure emerges. It's an Arachne—a humanoid upper body of a woman with pale skin and long, silvery hair, seamlessly merging into the sleek, chitinous body of a spider. Her crimson eyes glow faintly in the dim light, and her body is covered in a sheen of minerals embedded in her carapace.

Alix's eyes narrow as he opens the system interface, scanning her. "Level 205," he mutters under his breath, his tension easing. "Not a threat."

He straightens, meeting her gaze. "Yeah, I'm new," he says, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. "I take it you're not too used to strangers wandering into your little domain?"

The Arachne cocks her head, studying him with a mix of caution and intrigue.

"Strangers rarely survive the spiders," she replies, her voice smooth and calm. "But you… you didn't just survive. You slaughtered them with ease."

His gaze drifts to her body, noticing the shimmering minerals embedded across her limbs and torso. They're the same as the ones lining the cavern walls. A thought strikes him.

"By the way… Have you been eating the ones in this cave?"

The Arachne's eyes narrow slightly, but she doesn't deny it.

"I have. These minerals are rich in mana and energy. Consuming them allows me to evolve… to become stronger."

Alix crosses his arms, his crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

"Stronger, huh? Seems like a waste to me. All that potential, just for a little growth?"

The Arachne's expression darkens, her tone defensive.

"What would you know of my struggle? Survival in this forest demands strength. Without it, I would have been devoured long ago."

Alix shrugs, his voice calm but firm. "Fair enough. But I didn't come here to leave empty-handed."

He gestures to the mineral-laden walls around them.

"This place? I've already claimed it. And I'm not about to let it be devoured by anyone else."

The Arachne's eyes flash with anger, her voice rising. "You are a bold one to declare ownership of what is mine."

She takes a step forward, her movements deliberate and sharp.

"If you want this place, then you must kill me first. I will avenge my children by ending your life."

The Arachne snarls, her crimson eyes glowing brighter. Without another word, she lunges at him, her clawed hands slashing through the air with deadly speed. Her movements are fluid, and the minerals embedded in her body shimmer with each strike, amplifying her strength and durability.