Lucas moved through the crimson mist with calm, measured steps. His hands remained tucked inside his coat pockets, and his expression was relaxed — almost lazy. Yet his blue eyes stayed sharp, constantly scanning the terrain ahead.
The Imp's voice echoed directly into his mind.
"Master, they are moving northeast. The red-haired female is leading. She seems familiar with the path."
Lucas didn't reply out loud. He simply nodded once and adjusted his direction slightly, keeping a safe distance behind the group.
The terrain gradually changed the deeper they went. The twisted black trees grew denser, and thick strands of white, web-like substance began appearing on the branches and ground. The air felt heavier here, carrying a faint, unpleasant smell — a mix of decay and something sickly sweet.
"Master," the Imp reported again after a few minutes. "There are small spiders scattered around the area. They're hiding in the trees and under the rocks. The group hasn't noticed them yet."
Lucas's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"They're walking straight into a nest," he muttered under his breath. "Either they're confident… or stupid."
He continued following, his footsteps making no sound. The mist grew thicker, and the crimson moonlight struggled to pierce through the canopy of web-covered trees. The further they walked, the more the ground became covered in layers of sticky, pale webbing.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, the Imp's voice returned, this time with a hint of caution.
"Master… we're close. The nest is just ahead. I can sense a much larger presence inside."
Lucas slowed his steps and eventually came to a stop behind a thick cluster of black trees. He leaned his back against one of the trunks and folded his arms across his chest.
"Show me," he ordered quietly.
The Imp didn't need further instructions. It sent a mental image directly into Lucas's mind.
Through the Imp's vision, Lucas could see the scene ahead clearly.
A large clearing stretched out before them. In the center stood what appeared to be the ruins of an old stone structure, half-collapsed and completely overtaken by thick, white webs. Dozens of smaller spiders — each the size of a large dog — crawled across the webs and ruins. Their bodies were black with glowing red patterns on their abdomens.
And at the entrance of the ruined structure sat the creature Riven had mentioned.
It was easily three times the size of the smaller spiders. Its body was covered in thick, armored black chitin with red vein-like markings. Eight long, sharp legs extended from its sides, and its multiple glowing red eyes stared outward with clear intelligence. Two large, curved fangs dripped with a dark liquid.
Even from a distance, Lucas could feel the pressure it gave off.
"E-rank…" he murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Yeah. That thing's definitely not F-rank."
From his hidden position, Lucas watched as Riven, Darius, and Liora finally stopped at the edge of the clearing. The three of them stared at the spider nest with varying expressions.
Riven's crimson eyes gleamed with excitement and greed. She licked her lips unconsciously as she looked at the glowing purple crystal embedded deep within the massive web structure.
Darius, on the other hand, wore a more cautious expression. His hand rested on the hilt of the greatsword on his back as he scanned the dozens of smaller spiders crawling across the ruins.
Liora stood slightly apart from the two, her silver-white hair flowing gently in the faint breeze. Her expression was calm, but there was a clear trace of pride and arrogance in her light purple eyes. As an Epic Class holder, she carried herself with the natural confidence of someone who believed she stood above most of her peers.
Riven broke the silence first, her voice filled with impatience.
"There it is. That crystal is worth a fortune in merits. If we take out the big one, the rest of the spiders will scatter. We can do this."
Darius frowned, still observing the nest.
"I don't know, Riven… That big spider is definitely E-rank. And there are too many smaller ones. Even if I tank the big one, we'll get swarmed."
Riven clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned toward Liora.
"What about you, Liora? You're an Epic Class holder. You can just blow them all away with your lightning, right?"
Liora didn't answer immediately. She continued staring at the nest with a composed, slightly disdainful look, as if the entire situation was beneath her. After a few seconds, she spoke in a calm but proud tone.
"I could," she said simply. "But I won't waste my mana on a swarm of insignificant insects just because you're greedy."
Riven's face twitched at the word "greedy," but she held back her irritation.
Liora continued, her voice carrying a hint of arrogance.
"Besides, even if I am an Epic Class, I'm not foolish enough to fight an E-rank monster and its entire nest with only two people supporting me. If something goes wrong, I'm not dying here because of your impatience."
Darius let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed Liora was on his side — at least for now.
Riven's expression darkened. She hated being looked down on, especially by someone like Liora.
"So what? You're just going to turn around and leave?" she asked, her voice sharp. "After we already came all the way here?"
Liora glanced at her coldly.
"I said it's risky. I didn't say I was scared." Her purple eyes narrowed slightly. "There's a difference."
Riven opened her mouth to argue again, but before she could speak, something unexpected happened.
One of the smaller spiders near the outer edge of the nest suddenly collapsed. Its legs curled inward as it twitched violently before going still.
Then another one fell.
And another.
Within seconds, nearly ten of the smaller spiders had dropped dead without any visible attack.
Riven took a step back, her confident expression cracking.
"…What the hell?" she muttered.
Darius's face turned serious.
"Something's killing them from inside."
Liora's proud demeanor remained, but her eyes sharpened as she stared deeper into the nest. Her grip on her silver staff tightened slightly.
"…We're not alone here," she said quietly.
From his hidden position, Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
Just then, the Imp's voice echoed in his mind.
"Master… four other humans are approaching from the opposite side of the nest. They're moving carefully, trying not to alert the spiders."
Darius suddenly let out a low chuckle. His lips curled into a predatory smile as he watched more spiders collapsing inside the nest.
"Let's go," he said, gripping the hilt of his greatsword. "Those fools are already pulling the aggro of the spiders for us."
Riven's crimson eyes lit up with excitement.
"That's what I'm talking about," she said with a grin. "We move in now while they're busy fighting. We can pick off the big one while it's distracted."
Liora wanted to wait.
She preferred observing first — identifying who these other students were before making any move. Rushing into an unknown situation went against her nature. But before she could voice her hesitation, sharp, intrusive thoughts began surfacing in her mind.
'An Epic Class holder… and you're standing here like a coward, waiting on the sidelines. Is this really all you amount to? You told yourself you wouldn't be looked down on by anyone again. You said you were different. So why are you hesitating now?'
The thoughts dug deeper, twisting with quiet mockery.
'If you keep acting like this, how are you any different from the rest of them? All that pride… and in the end, you're just as afraid.'
Liora's fingers tightened around her silver staff. A flicker of irritation and wounded pride crossed her face. She hated how easily those thoughts took root.
Riven turned to her impatiently.
"Liora, are you coming or not? We're going to miss the chance."
Liora gritted her teeth. For a brief moment, her usual composed and proud expression cracked. She refused to be seen as hesitant or weak.
"…Let's go," she finally said, her voice cold. "I'm not afraid of some stupid spider."
Riven and Darius exchanged a glance, both surprised by her sudden change in attitude, but neither commented.
From his hiding spot, Lucas began walking forward, his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Good job, Imp. Keep manipulating their thoughts. Make them reckless, but not suicidal."
The Imp, who was following the group from the shadows, replied with a hint of excitement in its voice.
"Understood, Master."
Riven didn't wait for a second confirmation. The moment Liora agreed, she turned and began moving toward the nest with quick, eager steps. Darius followed right behind her, his greatsword already drawn and resting against his shoulder.
Liora walked after them, her expression cold and unreadable, though her grip on the silver staff remained tight. The mocking thoughts still lingered at the edge of her mind, pushing her forward even when her instincts warned her to be cautious.
As the three of them stepped past the outer layer of webbing and into the clearing, the atmosphere immediately grew heavier. The ground was completely covered in thick, sticky white webs that clung to their boots with every step. Dozens of smaller spiders crawled across the ruined stone structure ahead, their glowing red patterns pulsing faintly in the crimson light.
The moment the group entered the clearing, several spiders turned toward them.
Riven didn't hesitate. She drew both curved daggers and dashed forward with surprising speed, her body low to the ground. With two clean slashes, she cut down the nearest spider before it could react. Greenish blood splattered across the webs.
Darius let out a short laugh.
"Finally, some action," he said, swinging his heavy greatsword in a wide arc. The blade smashed into two spiders at once, crushing their bodies with brutal force.
Liora stayed a few steps behind them. She raised her silver staff, and faint crackles of lightning began dancing around the crystal at its tip.
"[Stormcaller's Mark]," she muttered.
A thin bolt of lightning shot out from her staff and struck one of the spiders cleanly through the head, killing it instantly. However, she didn't follow up with more attacks. She was clearly holding back, observing the situation rather than going all out.
Riven clicked her tongue as she stabbed another spider.
"Don't hold back so much, Liora. We need to clear a path fast."
Liora didn't respond. Her purple eyes remained sharp as she scanned the nest ahead. Something still felt off. The spiders weren't swarming them as aggressively as she expected. It was almost as if something deeper inside the nest was drawing most of their attention.
Lucas walked forward without any attempt to hide his presence.
The moment he stepped out from the trees and into the clearing, the atmosphere around him seemed to shift. The thick white webs covering the ground and trees trembled slightly, as if reacting to an unseen pressure.
Several smaller spiders that had been crawling along the outer edges of the nest suddenly froze. Their red-patterned bodies twitched violently before they began slowly retreating, creating a clear path in front of him.
Lucas strolled through the clearing at a relaxed pace, one hand casually resting in his coat pocket while the other held Voidreaver over his shoulder. His long black coat swayed gently with each step, and the crimson moonlight reflected off the dark metal of his greatsword.
His lips curled into a faint smile filled with excitement and hunger.
"At last... a human body. I wonder what I can summon with it."
He continued walking forward, his blue eyes calm yet gleaming with quiet anticipation as he approached the three students standing ahead of him.
***
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