...Screechhh!...
"Just keep running, Felin, Mifumi-sama. Don't bother looking back!"
"Mhm!..."
"We're almost out of its territory!"
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf is currently on the run from a Rank 3 Web Weaver monster that is currently chasing their group.
The Web Weaver monster is a 2-meter giant spider-like monster with a Web Creation Magic skill that allows it to create a field of spider webs to trap and catch its victims. It also has a Light Attribute in Magic, giving it the ability to refract light, making its web and itself disappear in plain sight.
After taking the pathway inside the Middle-Layer, the dense forest area of the Forest Valley Dungeon, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf unknowingly enters the territory of the Web Weaver monster.
It was already too late when Felin, with her enhanced senses as a Beast kin, noticed the sounds of movement of the invisible giant spider-like monster.
The Web Weaver monster has already got close to their group. Close enough that they won't be able to lose it even if they ran as fast as Vier and Mifumi can.
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf retreated towards the pathway that they came from, which brings them to the situation they are currently in.
"Gyaaahhh!..."
...Mifumi-sama!!!...
Unable to notice the invisible spider web, Mifumi's feet got caught in it, and she was lifted and restrained mid-air.
"I guess we didn't have any choice but to fight."
"Mhm!..."
It's not like the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf decided to retreat because they won't be able to win against a Rank 3 Web Weaver monster. They decided to retreat because fighting an invisible enemy is rather annoying, as said by Vier.
Being a Bronze Rank Adventurer Party, a single Rank 3 monster is the limit of monsters' ranking their group is allowed to fight.
That's why Vier is confident that they can survive this dire situation.
"Can you free yourself, Mifumi-sama?"
"I can, but you and Felin-chan need to be away from me."
"Mhm!..."
At Mifumi's instruction, Vier and Felin take some distance away from Mifumi and hide behind the trunk of a giant tree.
After Vier and Felin take cover, Mifumi casts her Wind Attribute Magic skill to free herself before the Web Weaver monster reaches her.
"Whirlwind!..."
A gale of wind started to revolve around Mifumi, creating a Wind Barrier along with a dozen Wind Blades that cut the invisible spider webs restraining her.
...Thud!...
"Ouch!..."
Once the invisible spider webs suspending her mid-air were cut, Mifumi fell to the ground.
"Hurry up and come here, Mifumi-sama."
"Mhm!... Hurry up! Hide!"
"Wait... My butt hurts from the fall."
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...Screechhh!...
The screeching voice echoes in the air as the Web Weaver monster lurks within the forest, invisible to the eyes of the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf.
"Can you sense where it is, Felin?"
"Mhm!... It's hiding there at the top of that big tree."
Felin pointed at the top of a 30-meter-tall tree 12 meters away from where their group was hiding.
"So what are we going to do now, Felin-chan, Vier-chan? If we don't deal with it any time soon. It will be dangerous for us."
What Mifumi means is that if they didn't defeat the Web Weaver monster with only an hour before sunset, their group would be at a total disadvantage while fighting in the darkness of the forest during the night.
"Then we just have to defeat that big spider, right?"
"Fine... But we need to be careful. Okay?"
"Mhm!... Let's beat the big spider!"
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf's confidence in winning against the Rank 3 Web Weaver monster came from understanding that the monster they're about to fight is not an offensive type of monster.
The Web Weaver monster specialized in stealth and sneak attack. It doesn't have any offensive Magic skills, unlike other insect-like monsters.
After coming up with a plan, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf proceeds to win their second fight for the exam.
With Felin sensing the location of the Web Weaver monster, Puro-III releases another one of Vier's Magic Items called Scarlet Grenade from its Storage skill, and Vier throws it mid-air towards the location of the Web Weaver monster.
...Boom!...
The Scarlet Grenade releases a red-colored smoke that has the effect of temporarily interfering with the flow of Mana and Magic skills.
As the red-colored smoke engulfed the surroundings of where the Web Weaver monster was supposed to be, the Web Weaver monster lost its control with the Light Attribute and finally appeared in the eyes of the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf.
"Let's bring it down, Mifumi-sama!"
"Mhm!... Water Sphere Barrage!"
...Bang!...Bang!...Bang!...
...BAMMM!...
Using her Magic Item Shotgun, Vier shoots down the Web Weaver monster with her Iron Bullets. Mifumi cast her Water Magic skill instead of Flame Magic skill because Vier insisted that she wanted the Monster Materials from the Web Weaver monster without any burn.
The Web Weaver monster was surprised by the sudden loss of control of its ability to refract light, making the attacks of Vier and Mifumi hit directly at the spider monster.
...THUD!...
Then, after the Web Weaver monster falls to the ground, it is once again time for Felin to finish the fight.
"Lightning Beast Form - Lighting Ball."
Felin creates a ball of lightning in her right hand using her Bloodline Magic.
When Vier realizes what Felin is about to do, she immediately tries to stop Felin.
"Wait..."
But Vier is already too late. Felin, with her full strength, has already thrown the ball of lightning towards the Web Weaver monster.
...BOOM!!!...
Both lighting and thunder erupted as the ball of lightning made contact with the Web Weaver monster and burned its whole body, turning its skin to cinder.
"NO!!!..."
Vier can only scream in disappointment as she watches the still-smoking lifeless body of the Web Weaver monster.
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"I'm sorry for burning the Monster, Vier, Mifumi-sama."
Felin forgot that her Lighting Bloodline Magic would not only shatter her enemies to pieces but also burn them to cinder. After all, she is so focused on what Vier and Mifumi said that they should maintain some distance while fighting the Rank 3 Web Weaver monster for their safety.
"It's all right, Felin. The skin is already gone but the web sack inside its body is still fine. Plus, there's also the Monster Core. That's more than enough for our loot."
"Besides, it's our main goal to defeat the Web Weaver monster, not to get its Monster Materials. So you did nothing wrong, Felin-chan."
"Mhm!..."
After consoling Felin's disappointment and finishing the dismantling of the Web Weaver monster, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf continues their path inside the forest area in the Middle-Layer of the Forest Valley Dungeon.
An hour has passed after the fight with the Web Weaver monster.
With the sun starting to set, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf made camp at one of the makeshift platforms at the top of a 30-meter-tall tree.
The three of them eat their dinner which is a lunchbox prepared by Vier's mother early this morning.
While eating their dinner, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf made a recount of their loot and the Monster Cores they collected for the exam point.
Each of the Monster Cores of the Sword Horned Beetle is worth 1 point. Yet, only three Monster Cores are the limit for each kind of monster.
With the addition of the Monster Core from the Web Weaver monster, which is worth 2 points, their total points are now 5 points.
On the other hand, the Monster Materials that they have gathered as their loot include the three normal sword horns of the Sword Horned Beetles and a much bigger sword horn of the boss Sword Horned Beetle along with the web sack of the Web Weaver monster.
"After the exam, we can sell the Monster Materials to the Adventurers Guild. Or you can make some Swords for each of us, Vier-chan."
"Mhm!... I want a new Sword!"
"Then let's do that after the exam. Also, we can give Rozze the Monster Core and the Monster Materials of the Web Weaver monster since it has a Light Attribute like her."
"Let's give Rozze onee-chan a gift."
"I'm sure Rozze-chan will like that."
Aside from the thought of bringing home a gift for their friend, Rozze, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf all have the same thought as they continue eating their lunchbox dinner.
...If Rozze is here, then this exam will be a lot much easier...
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PuroShark Writer's Note.
Here's a picture of what Puro-III look like.
Here's a picture of what Vier's Magic Shotgun look like.
Look at the comment.