‘What happens if a single lifeform survives its natural enemies for a long time?’
‘What is the result when a creature that does not age and can grow for a lifetime simply avoids death?’
‘They become a spiritual creature. It’s the same in the Murim as it is here.’
They become monsters.
One of the masters of the North, named the Hell Spider, was exactly that.
The Hell Spider, which had coiled itself in the North long before it was even known to the world, was originally a Giant Spider, a low-rank monster.
‘…Or rather, it used to be.’
A Giant Spider’s typical size was 2 meters. As the name suggested, it was a giant spider. Its specialty was shooting webs from its tail. It would spray webs in an instant, like an ambush, binding its enemy tightly. The moment the web—which tightened the more the victim moved—completely sealed the prey!
*Crunch!*
The swarming Giant Spiders would tear their prey to pieces. Unlike ordinary spiders, they did not store their food. They simply ate and ate until their bellies were about to burst.
‘They grow their bodies.’
They continuously increased their size. They lived as if eating and growing was their sole duty. Though they seemed like fairly powerful monsters, their limits were clear.
“Usually, hunting Giant Spiders is easy as long as you avoid the webs. That’s all there is to it.”
“Are they stupid too?”
“They are insects. You know how it is. Those types of monsters are easy once you know the strategy.”
Hunting becomes easy once you know how to respond. Put simply, you just have to avoid the webs. Other monsters knew this too. Because of that, Giant Spiders often became prey for other monsters before they could even reach adulthood.
They were a species at the very bottom of the monster food chain. Yet, such a Giant Spider…
“This one has lasted at least 200 years. Normally, they should just keep getting bigger, but I heard its growth stopped at some point.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Instead, for some reason, it became stronger. Its defense thickened, and its webs became tougher. What’s even scarier is… it became smarter.”
“That’s the worst-case scenario.”
It succeeded in surviving for a long time and became a spiritual creature. It had successfully become the overlord of a branch of the Northern Mountain Range. Although all sorts of monsters ran wild in the North, something as special as this Hell Spider was rare.
“Besides, there is another major problem.”
“What is it?”
“…It has become a new species.”
*Kiiiiiik*
*Kiik*
It was just as the Black Crow scouts in charge of the investigation had said. The Hell Spider had built a nest. There is only one thing a nesting monster does.
Breeding.
The Hell Spider had established a nest and was focusing on reproduction.
“How many are there… I can’t even estimate.”
“There are probably more that we can’t see than those we can.”
Even the Hell Spiders visible before them numbered at least several hundred. Though they were small, measuring about 2 meters, they were craftier and more ferocious than the original species, the Giant Spider.
“I heard that for about thirty years, the smaller ones have started acting as parasites.”
“There they are.”
Parasitism on top of everything else. It had even awakened new abilities.
The offspring. The young, which should have been easily killed as prey for other monsters, were dominating other species. Throughout the nest, several monsters could be seen wandering with vacant eyes, seemingly possessed by Hell Spider hatchlings.
‘It has quite the appetite.’
There were Goblins, Kobolds, Letmen, Lizardmen, and even Nittons, which were beasts eaten for food.
“We kidnapped one to examine it, and it eats the brain. Then it creates a sort of skewer, which apparently allows it to move them like that.”
“Interesting.”
The Hell Spider had become a powerful species, far too formidable to have originated from a low-rank monster. The prey had become the predator. Its influence was significant.
*Kieeeeeek!*
Every time the Hell Spider deep inside the nest shrieked, the forest became deathly silent.
“Ugh…”
“…”
It was a roar powerful enough to make even Knights possessed of Aura flinch. It was no exaggeration to call it the ruler of this mountain.
An ordinary person would have retreated in fear, but my choice had already been made.
“Prepare for battle.”
“…Orders received.”
The battle would proceed. I hadn’t even brought the soldiers. They were in charge of the defense of the fortress. Instead, the ones I brought were the Knights and the mercenary groups.
“We finally get to play a part.”
“Show me your skills as much as possible. Advance!”
“Understood!”
Hellhound. Beaster. Abyss. Those were the names of the three mercenary groups I had brought.
‘…What evocative names.’
Though they had named their groups after the trends popular among mercenaries, their skills were the real deal.
“Charge!”
*Boom!*
They threw themselves at the monsters without hesitation. Unlike the Knights who moved in formation, they appeared free-spirited.
‘Their synergy is no joke.’
There were no openings. It was obvious that if one stepped into what appeared to be a gap, they would immediately be torn apart by a mercenary who was already prepared.
“Throw them!”
*Swish. Swish.* Before the mercenaries even collided with the monsters, they threw their respective weapons. Hand axes. Daggers. Hidden weapons of unknown types flew through the air.
“Out of the way!”
*Crash!*
Among them were those who tore and activated magic scrolls.
‘Impressive. Where did they get those? They’re quite resourceful.’
Even before the collision.
*Kiiiiiik!*
They dealt damage to the pack of Hell Spiders in the front. Seizing that opening, the mercenaries rushed in.
*Kieek! Crunch!*
They drove their swords in without hesitation. They crushed with maces, pulverized with flails, and slashed with swords. Their relentlessly swung weapons showed no mercy.
*Crack. Crunch. Shatter.*
Swinging like berserkers, they advanced one step at a time.
‘This is fun.’
They were like the wanderers of the Murim. They might lack refinement, but these mercenaries had the guts required to sustain a harsh life.
“Die, you bastards!”
“Graaaah! Shit! I got one! Hit this side too!”
*Creeaaaak—*
They poured their souls into every exchange. The Hell Spiders were actually shrinking back in the face of such momentum. The initiative had shifted to us.
“Next, right now!”
I intended to increase that momentum even further.
‘It’s only our loss if we drag this out. We finish it today.’
*Whoosh! Bang!*
I fired a signal.
“Advance!”
“The order is to advance!”
The Knights, who had been on standby, charged out. It wasn’t toward the front line where the mercenaries and Hell Spiders were clashing. The place the Knights charged into was the empty flank!
*Boom! Bang! Crash!*
Even though they couldn’t pick up full speed inside the mountain range, a Knight’s lance was powerful in its own right. The moment the lances, held by knights on armored chargers, pierced the Hell Spiders’ thoraxes.
*Splat!*
Webs scattered in all directions.
“Tear them apart!”
Not a single Knight was caught in the randomly flying webs. Everyone drew their Aura to cut through the webs while fighting from their chargers.
The finale was…
“…”
The Iron Fist appeared at the rear without a sound.
*Sssss… Thud!*
The squad members led by Sian were stealthier than anyone. They were skilled enough to bypass the instincts of the Hell Spiders! Having seized the rear silently, they crept up on the Hell Spiders.
*Stab. Stab.*
They quietly drove their swords into the spiders’ bodies. A single strike. That was more than enough.
‘Because they’re coated in poison.’
*Kieeeeeek!*
A poison so potent even a Hell Spider couldn’t withstand it was embedded in the Iron Fist’s daggers. It was just one strike, but it was enough to kill the spiders that hadn’t even fully matured.
Perhaps it realized its carefully raised offspring were dying. A roar filled with rage echoed out.
*Kiyaaaaaak!*
“It’s out!”
The Hell Spider that had been entrenched in the nest finally emerged. It was massive and gargantuan.
*Thump.*
The Hell Spider, with a body as thick as iron plate, was agile in its movements. It was also ferocious.
*Crunch!*
It was powerful enough to crush the smaller Hell Spiders standing where it stepped!
“…Wow.”
“Crazy. It’s a catastrophe.”
It was a being truly worthy of being called the master of the mountain range.
Knights, mercenaries, Iron Fist—none of them stepped forward. No, they didn’t need to.
‘…Because it’s my turn.’
I poured sufficient Aura into the sword I had drawn before my war cry. That was enough.
*Tap!*
To face the master of the mountain range!
*Whoosh—Whoosh!*
I swung my sword twenty times in a single breath. A trained swordsman’s blade can target the same spot no matter how many times it is swung.
*Thud. Thud.*
I madly embroidered the air with my sword toward the front legs of the Hell Spider. It was a blade laden with Aura. However…
*Kiyaaaak!*
The master of the mountain range parried the Aura with its own body.
‘This is insane.’
*Hum—Hum—*
Aura can only be blocked by Aura. It was clear the giant Hell Spider was instinctively using Soulforce. A monster that uses Aura! It truly was a freak!
‘…But this is within expectations.’
I wasn’t surprised as I lunged forward. I hadn’t expected to kill the master of the mountain range easily with ordinary methods.
‘I suppose it’s time I showed my full power.’
*Ssssh.*
While moving nimbly to dodge the Hell Spider’s legs that lunged at me in rage, I roused my Mana.
*Vroom—* My four magic circles began to rotate frantically.
I was different from ordinary Ma Beop Sa.
‘Normally, one would fire attack magic.’
I made a different choice: the maximization of offense.
“**Haste**.” *Whoosh!*
I added speed to my footwork. Instantly, my body became as light as the wind. I jumped, taking the high ground above the Hell Spider. I didn’t stop there.
“**Strength**.”
*Flare!*
Power overflowed in my body. The Mana was converted, planting the weight of a great mountain into my body, which had been tempered by the Liu Lei Method.
Buff spells began to stack. I became faster, stronger, and more lethal. To this, I added my own unique touch.
‘Manar was the hint.’
If one can use spirits to coat Aura with an attribute, shouldn’t Mana be capable of the same? It was simple logic. But that simple logic was enough.
‘Mana is originally the power of the Middle Dantian. There are martial artists who utilize this power once they reach a certain level.’
Ordinarily, one must rise to the level of a Will-Energy Harmful Person, who governs energy through will, to open the Middle Dantian. One who has mastered the talent of opening the Middle Dantian can draw in the surrounding energy.
*Fwaaaaack—*
“…It’s even possible to forcibly raise one’s level.”
The incomplete Aura, which had barely been formed through the help of Mugong, took on a perfect shape. It was only for a moment, but that was enough.
“Die. **Crushing Steel Sword**!”
Dealing death to the opponent with overwhelming power.
*Kiyaaaak!*
*Creeaaaaaack*
My sword, imbued with the power of a great mountain, descended as if to split the Hell Spider’s head. The air fractured, and the surrounding energy trembled.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Sensing a crisis instinctively, the Hell Spider spat out webs frantically.
*Sssss—*
Perhaps because it had survived for so long, the webs even contained toxicity; everywhere they touched began to melt. However, my domain alone was the exception. The webs melted away before reaching me.
An instant was all it took! A mere instant!
*Kiyaaaak!*
The moment my sword touched the Hell Spider, which stared at me with eyes full of resentment.
*Skreeeeeeech—*
The head of the Hell Spider, which had survived for centuries, split open.
Brain matter sprayed out, and toxic blood poured forth, melting the surroundings. Passing through the head and reaching the torso, the sword began to ruthlessly cleave the body in half.
“…”
“…Ugh.”
The moment I, having poured out all my strength, set foot on the ground again.
*Thoomp.*
The massive body of the ruler that had dominated the mountain range for ages collapsed.
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