Blood of Arachnia.

Near the supply tent, a group of children played.

"Bang! You're dead!" a boy shouted, pretending to shoot his friend with his fingers.

"Not fair! I dodged!" the other protested.

As they ran around, one of them suddenly froze.

His gaze locked onto the entrance of the camp.

Where a figure in a long black coat walked silently between the tents.

Something about him felt wrong.

The boy rubbed his eyes and looked again—

But—

The man was gone.

Like he had vanished into thin air.

The child shivered and ran back to his friends.

"Hey… did you see that guy?"

"Huh? What guy?"

The boy hesitated.

Maybe he imagined it.

Baek Jung moved without a sound, his footsteps silent against the dirt.

Despite his lack of presence, the few awakened in the camp subconsciously tensed as he passed by.

It was as if their instincts screamed that something dangerous had arrived.

He ignored them.

His destination was set.

Jiwook's tent.

Inside, Jiwook leaned back in his chair, a cigarette burning in his fingers as he reviewed reports.

A shadow fell over the entrance.

Without hello, Baek stepped inside.

Jiwook didn't even flinch.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, smirking.

"Oh, you're back."

Baek didn't waste time.

"Those mission completed"

Jiwook stretched, his muscles aching from sitting too long.

"thanks for complete the mission soldier,i appreciate —"

"I want my pay."

Baek's tone was cold, almost mechanical.

Jiwook's smirk faded.

For a moment, he studied Baek's face, trying to read him.

He sighed.

"Our research still on their job so be patient."

Baek's expression remained unreadable.

Jiwook continued.

" Tell me Baek,Whats up with that thing?."

Baek stared at him.

Jiwook clicked his tongue.

"Those thing you bring.."

Then, his voice dropped into something more serious.

"Do you aware with the consequences..."

Baek didn't respond.

He simply turned and walked out.

Not a goodbye. Not a glance back.

"Call me when the thing completed"

Just gone, like a shadow fading into the night.

The silence in the tent was thick after Baek left.

Jiwook stared at the flap of the tent, watching it sway slightly from the cold wind.

He sighed, rubbing his temples.

"That guy…"

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Even With this skill,… he still freaks me out."

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling of the tent.

"Guess I'm just lucky he's on my side... Otherwise, I'd probably be dead."

The tent flickered as memories surfaced.

It was When then Calamity on Rampage,

Jiwook stood alone, his self covered in blood Fighting those monster while his friend dying"

His breathing was heavy, his fingers trembling

with blood split to ground.

The battlefield around him was full of gaze from the monster.

Bodies lay in heaps, the ground drenched in blood and ash.

Jiwook stared at the his friend on his hand, his eyes cold and unreadable.

Then—

"haaah i need my pill…"jiwook closed his eyes as he don't want remember anymore those days.

———

Kai and Yuna stood in the ruined city, surrounded by crimson-stained rubble.

The air crackled with lingering mana, remnants of monsters long defeated.

Kai exhaled, reaching into his inventory.

Then—

[ Weapon Equipped: Karanka Blade! ]

Kai scanned the area.

Yuna grinned, unsheathing her katana.

"i feel something bad."

"Yeah"Kai agreed.

Kai and Yuna moved carefully through the ruined city, collecting resources from the abandoned buildings.

"This city...was mess...like it was burn in hell,.."say yuna

Then—

"Help! mommy please help me!"

A child's scream echoed through the desolate streets.

Yuna's eyes widened.

"Kai, look! A kid!"

On a pile of broken concrete, a young boy sat, crying for help.

Without hesitation, Yuna dashed forward.

But—

Kai grabbed her arm.

"Wait. Something's off."

Yuna frowned. "What do you mean? That kid is still alive! We need to help!"

Kai didn't move. Instead, he focused.

The boy reached out his hand—

"Watch out"Kai shout

Then—

CRASH!

A massive, grotesque limb smashed down from an abandoned building, crushing the street.

Kai and Yuna froze.

Then, from the shadows—

Eight glowing eyes stared at them.

A giant spider-like monster, with eight massive legs, crawled out from the ruined structure, its body blending into the darkness.

Then—

It vanished again, melting back into the shadows.

The child was still there, crying for help.

Kai's eyes narrowed.

"That kid… is a living bait."

Yuna clenched her fists. "Kai, got a plan?"

Kai smirked.

"Yeah. I guess we gamble."

From afar, Yuna sprinted forward at full speed, heading straight for the child.

The monster's long, nightmarish limbs lashed out—

But—

"Now, Kai!"

[ Earth creation-Stone Spear]

Kai fired a Stone Spear, striking the monster's arm, making it stumble back just before it could hit Yuna.

"Take this! Monster!"

A wave of Blast, making the monster screech in pain.

Then—

Its body shivered.

Suddenly—

A horde of smaller spiderlings burst from its back, rushing toward Yuna.

"What the hell?!" Yuna shouted.

She slashed through them, but more kept coming.

One jumped from behind—

But—

Kai shot it down before it could land.

"Nice one, Kai! Thanks!"

Then—

The monster's massive limb swung at Yuna again.

But—

She dodged, then jumped, crawling up its body while the spiderlings chased after her.

"Yuna activated her skill – Full Moon Slash!"

The full moon shone brightly in the sky.

For a moment—

Time stopped.

The monster screeched, trying to attack Yuna—

But—

She tore through its arm with a single slash.

While Yuna fought the monster, Kai moved, using his Karanka Blade.

With his dagger deflect the attack as he dashed through the battlefield, dodging the spiderlings' attacks.

Then—

He grabbed the child.

"Got him! Now, Yuna!"

Yuna smirked.

[Skill – One Thousand Night Slash! ]

A single, devastating slash tore through the giant spider and its mini versions.

For a moment—

Time stopped.

Then—

Blood splattered everywhere.

The monster's body collapsed.

[System Notification]

[ Battle Complete! ]

[ Rewards: New Item, Skill Level Up!]

Kai and Yuna stood, catching their breath, the child safe in Kai's arms.

Yuna sheathed her katana, smiling.

Kai looked at the system rewards and grinned.

[Blood of Arachnia(3/3)(Rank B item)]

[-Gaining Poison Resistance while consume]

Yuna smile

"We did it kai!"

"Aight"with Smile Kai replies.

To be continued.