It took nearly three grueling hours under the damp, heavy canopy for the remaining mercenaries to finish the monumental task. By the time the afternoon sun began to dip behind the jagged western peaks, every single usable component from the massive spider colony had been plundered, sorted, and tied down. Six massive, custom-built wooden cargo sledges sat in a neat row, piled dangerously high with pristine jade-green mandibles, rigid venomous stingers, and hundreds of kilograms of shimmering, high-grade silver silk.
Beneath the great redwood, Ethan's heavy eyelids slowly fluttered open. The dark, suffocating fog of exhaustion had finally receded from his mind, replaced by a cool, stable clarity. His core was still dangerously hollow, but his physical senses were fully alert.
