Chapter 19: The Core of the Human-Faced Spider

The effect of the Thousand-Year-Old Mandragora was tremendous.

My mana increased significantly, mana efficiency improved, and my physical abilities were greatly enhanced.

After experiencing the real effects, I wanted to eat it again.

However, getting a Potion was as hard as picking a star from the sky.

‘All the Dungeons were duds.’

I was lucky when I got the Frost Heart, but after that, I couldn’t find a Potion in any of the Dungeons I visited.

Nothing showed up on the Hunter Exchange, either.

I’d have to wait until the Potions Fryra was cultivating matured, or search around the Dragon Lair.

So, I got a Skillbook for the Goblin.

[Tracking (F)]

-Find traces of a desired target or item.

I bought a low-grade Skillbook cheaply, had the Goblin learn it, and then raised the Skill Grade with the money I had.

[Tracking (C)]

-Find traces of a desired target or item.
-Observation ability is greatly increased.
-Detects unique energies.

With this, I instructed the Goblin to search for anything with a strong mana presence.

There hadn’t been any results for a while.

“You found a Potion?”

【Yes. I saw something exactly like the one in the Potion Encyclopedia.】

“Really? What does it look like?”

【It’s a Potion with the body of a spider and the face of a human.】

A Spider with a Human Face.

A creature that holds powerful poison.

Its core, filled with poison, can’t be consumed as is, but if the poison is neutralized, it’s said to be one of the best Potions out there.

‘I’m immune to poison anyway.’

So, even if I just ate the Core of the Spider with a Human Face as it is, it wouldn’t be a problem.

However.

Not every Spider with a Human Face has a core, which was a bit of a concern.

Still, there was nothing to lose by checking it out.

“Let’s go, then.”

【Yes! Piggy! Let’s go!】

【You’re excited.】

I followed the Goblin as it took the lead.

“So it’s not by the Mine?”

【No. It’s this way.】

There was a Portal to the east where the Mine was, but no Portal had been set up to the west.

“How far is it?”

【It’s a bit far. It’ll take about 6 hours.】

“Then let’s speed up.”

I used a spell I’d gained through the Dragon Heart Fragment.

“Haste.”

A spell that lightens your body and increases your movement speed. With this, I could cover a long distance quickly.

“Let’s go.”

I kicked off the ground and dashed forward.

【Over there.】

I looked where the Goblin was pointing.

In the middle of a huge cliff, there was a cave entrance.

“I’ll go down first. Wait here.”

【Okay.】

【Understood.】

I used Ice Spear to make steps on the cliff and descended to the cave entrance by stepping on the ice stairs.

Standing at the entrance, I caught a whiff of a strange, unfamiliar smell.

[You have been exposed to poison mist.]

[Due to Dragon God’s Body, you are not affected by poison.]

Seeing the poison mist seeping out, it seemed this really was the lair of the Spider with a Human Face.

It would be hard to take the Orc or Goblin inside with me.

Neither of them had any resistance to poison yet, so one wrong move and they could die.

‘I’ll just slip in and check things out.’

I used Absolute Barrier to shield myself, then stepped into the cave.

The light gradually faded, and darkness swallowed my vision.

‘Dark Eye.’

I used magic that allowed me to see in the dark as if it were daylight, and the cave became clear again.

The floor of the long cave was littered with bones.

Remains of the Spider with a Human Face’s prey.

I could see skulls of all sorts of different races.

Passing those, I went deeper into the cave, where the poison mist thickened and began to obscure my vision.

I heightened my senses and kept moving.

Squelch!

The floor was sticky.

My shoes melted away.

Feeling the sticky sensation on my bare feet, I reached down and checked the texture of the liquid.

It wasn’t water; it felt like blood tainted with poison.

‘Is it hurt?’

I followed the trail of purplish liquid staining the floor. Before long, I heard something groaning.

[…Ugh.]

Holding my breath, I crouched low and moved slowly. As I approached as quietly as possible, a huge open area appeared.

Dozens of cocoons hung from the ceiling, wrapped tightly in silk.

At the center was the Spider with a Human Face.

‘It’s injured.’

It was wrapping its wounds with silk to stop the bleeding.

[Activating Golden Dragon Eye.]

[Spider with a Human Face (A)]

-A Spider with a Human Face that has survived for hundreds of years.
-Currently suffering from a severe injury.
-Total abilities: C(A)
-Potential: S
-Possessed item: Core of the Spider with a Human Face (A)
-Possessed Skills: Poison Mist (A), Poison Spit (B), Spider Web Hell (A), Thread Spinning (A).

Its total abilities had dropped due to its injuries.

‘This might be doable.’

I calmly returned to the entrance, created a Portal, and went back to the Dragon Lair. I headed to the Elixir Farm to find Fryra.

“Fryra.”

【Yes.】

Fryra, who was tending the crops, approached.

(What’s the matter?)

“Do you happen to have any plants that can purify poison?”

【Yes. There’s a friend called the Purification Flower, and I’ve grown a few.】

“Can it purify the poison of the Spider with a Human Face?”

【If I use Overgrowth, I think it’s possible. There’s a time limit, though.】

“That’s enough. Grab some Purification Flowers and come with me.”

Fryra nodded, went to a corner of the farm, and carefully picked a few flowers before returning to my side.

Using the Portal in the Dragon Lair, I returned to the cave entrance of the Spider with a Human Face.

The two Purification Flowers in Fryra’s hands purified the poison at the entrance.

“Goblin. Orc. You two come down as well.”

I made ice stairs again with Ice Spear and brought the Goblin and Orc down to join us.

【Then I’ll begin. Each flower’s effect will last about 10 minutes.】

“Okay. Haste.”

When Fryra used Overgrowth, one Purification Flower grew as big as a human face and absorbed the surrounding poison.

“Follow me.”

With my lightened body, I dashed inside. Since I’d been here once already, I didn’t get lost and moved straight ahead.

We quickly arrived at the place where the Spider with a Human Face was.

[How dare you… who dares crawl into my inner sanctum!!]

“Dragon’s Blessing.”

Instead of answering, I cast a blessing on the Guardians.

Their total ability was currently at C-rank.

For a short time, they’d have B-rank abilities.

“Hit it hard.”

[Uoooooo!]

【Taste my poison needle!】

【It looks hideous.】

The Orc charged in with its axe and swung it hard. The Orc severed the silk the Spider with a Human Face was hanging from in one blow.

The Spider with a Human Face crashed to the ground.

Fryra used Overgrowth on a Lowest-Grade Flame Grass, then attacked the Spider with a Human Face with Rampage Touch.

Kwaaaang!

The Flame Grass exploded, and flames engulfed the Spider with a Human Face. The silk wrapped around its body burned away, opening up its wounds.

【Kyaaaaaaah!】

The Spider with a Human Face shrieked and spewed a massive Poison Mist from its mouth.

But Fryra’s Purification Flower absorbed the poison.

Seeing that, the Goblin blew on its poison needle.

[Hoo! How do you like my special poison needle?]

[Heh… do you really think something like this can kill me? I won’t let you go!]

The Spider with a Human Face glared with blood-red eyes and stood up.

The Orc rushed in again and shattered one of the Spider with a Human Face’s legs with its axe.

Its combat prowess was outstanding.

It definitely performed better than other Guardians.

“That’s enough. Everyone fall back.”

I could have taken it down alone.

But I’d brought the Guardians for the Awakening Quest.

Park Chanseong was having a hard time finding a D-rank Dungeon, and while time was dragging on, the Spider with a Human Face appeared.

‘Everyone’s landed effective attacks.’

If I finished it off, the Awakening Quest would be cleared.

“Ice Spear.”

I summoned a spear made of ice.

I poured all my mana into it to increase its power.

Crackle!

With its attributes enhanced, white frost bloomed.

I steadied myself and threw the spear.

The Ice Spear, scattering cold, shot forward and struck the Spider with a Human Face in the face.

Crackle!

Crack-crack!

The moment it hit, ice flowers bloomed on its face. At the same time, the ice rapidly spread and froze the Spider with a Human Face’s entire body.

“Gravity Hand.”

Crunch!

An invisible hand crushed the frozen Spider with a Human Face. The Spider with a Human Face vanished in a cloud of ice dust, and something dropped to the ground.

At the same time, messages flooded in.

[Awakening Quest complete.]

[Orc of the Desert Crocodile Tribe awakens to C-rank.]

[Awakening Quest complete.]

[Fryra awakens to C-rank.]

[Awakening Quest complete.]

[Goblin awakens to C-rank.]

Now I could raise them up to B-rank.

[Here it is.]

Fryra used the Purification Flower to pick up the Core of the Spider with a Human Face that had fallen to the ground.

[Core of the Spider with a Human Face (A)]

-The core of a Spider with a Human Face, created by accumulating various poisons over hundreds of years.
-Contains extremely powerful poison.
-If the poison is purified and consumed, you can gain a massive amount of mana.
-Poison attribute resistance greatly increases.
-Understanding of poison attributes greatly increases.

“Thank you.”

I immediately put the Core of the Spider with a Human Face in my mouth.

It was hard like a marble, so I had to chew it, but as soon as it entered my mouth, it melted like water and flowed into my body.

[Due to Dragon God’s Body, you are not affected by poison.]

[Due to Dragon God’s Body, you are not affected by poison.]

[Due to Dragon God’s Body, you are not affected by poison.]

My body surged with power.

The poison-filled core of the Spider with a Human Face spread throughout my body, then quickly gathered into my Dragon Heart.

Maybe it was because I’d taken a similar Potion before.

Unlike last time, I could endure it.

I just felt a little dizzy, but there weren’t any major changes in my body. The Dragon Heart devoured the core and made it its own.

[You have consumed the Core of the Spider with a Human Face.]

[Because you have consumed a Potion of the same grade, the effects are halved.]

[Mana efficiency increases.]

[Maximum mana increases.]

[Physical abilities enhanced due to the effect of Dragon God’s Body.]

There wasn’t a dramatic change like last time.

But this alone was enough.

“Hoo.”

I caught my breath and returned to the entrance with the Guardians. Then, I saw something in the sky.

A giant bird with enormous wings.

Its eyes and beak were sharp, and its size was nearly that of a fighter jet. It circled above us like a vulture.

It soared leisurely in the sky, circling over us.

[Activating Golden Dragon Eye.]

[Tyrant Eagle of the Sky (SS)]

-One of the five wings that rule the sky.
-It’s searching for the Spider with a Human Face.
-Total abilities: SS
-Potential: SSS
-Possessed item: Wind Eagle’s Core (S)
-Possessed Skills: High-speed Flight (SS), Sharp Talon (S), Wind Cutter (S), Magic Immunity (SS).

So that’s what did it in?

“…Insane.”

I couldn’t help but curse.

No matter how many cores I had, there was no way I could take on that thing at my current level.

If it picked a fight now, I’d be dead for sure.

【Huh…?】

[It’s coming this way.]

[Should I kill it? This poison needle…….]

“Everyone, get into the Portal! Now!”

We rushed through the Portal at the entrance to the Dragon Lair, and I waved my hand to destroy the Portal.

Then, I went outside and checked the surroundings.

Just in case the Tyrant Eagle of the Sky came after us. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to be able to come here.

“Hoo. I’ll have to be more careful.”

I never imagined such monsters existed.

Maybe because the tension faded,

My whole body felt sluggish.

Just as I was about to call it a day and head home,

[A Skillbook has been generated in the Library.]

Should I check that before I leave?