I stood with my hands raised as she drew her katana, pressing the cold steel against my throat. Any sudden move would mean death. Though we weren't too far apart in level, she was leagues ahead of me. Her red hair seemed to glow in the firelight surrounding us.
"Haha, what's your name?" I asked, trying to cut through the tension.
"You can see my name," she replied briskly, not lowering her guard. "How did you get here?"
"I fell into a trap," I answered quickly.
"Were you alone?"
"Yes," I nodded before explaining, "I... I wanted to level up so I could get new enchantments."
She kept the blade steady at my neck. "Enchantments?" she echoed, her tone curious.
"I'm an enchanter," I continued, my voice steadying. "I didn't have anyone to go with…"
After a moment, she sighed and lowered her sword. I exhaled in relief and sat down on the rock where she'd been sitting earlier. She joined me, though the silence that followed was thick with unspoken words.
"How did you end up here?" I finally asked after what felt like an eternity.
She hesitated, her gaze distant before she spoke. "The cave collapsed on us, separating us."
"Us?"
"I was with other members, but we got caught in different traps."
"Is there a way out?" I asked, glancing around the cave.
The walls were crawling with spiders—thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of them. Their tiny red eyes glowed faintly in the dark, and they seemed to be watching us cautiously. I couldn't tell if they were afraid or just waiting. There was a small hole in the ceiling where I had fallen in. A few other small openings dotted the top of the cave, almost out of reach.
"Unless you can fly," she said, pointing at the small gaps near the ceiling. " The spiders seem docile for now."
The thought of fighting all those spiders was overwhelming. "It'd be impossible to fight them all…"
She didn't respond, but from her expression, it didn't seem like she had lost hope. We sat in silence for a few minutes before I broke it.
"There's a bounty on your guild ?" I asked.
Her eyes narrowed. "How much?"
"One platinum per member. Some people are planning to collect."
"Thanks for telling me," she muttered as she stood up and stretched. The burst of fire whooshed past my head, causing me to stumble back in surprise.
"How can you keep up that ability for so long?" I asked, regaining my balance.
"I just have a lot of mana."
I chuckled. "I wish I had that much."
"How much do you have?"
"2,500," I replied quickly, but before I could ask how much she had, a deep rumbling echoed through the cave.
The spiders scattered, darting into the hundreds of small holes that lined the cave walls. One of the holes, larger than the rest—about the size of a small building—caught our eye. We moved towards it, but before we could enter, there was a loud splash.
A massive spider, dripping wet, emerged from the pool of water at the far end of the cave. Its enormous body shimmered as it pulled itself onto the rocky floor, and above its head, an orange name floated: "LV 10 Water Spider." The creature's legs created small puddles as it crawled forward.
As the spider charged, I glanced at Reyna. She remained calm, her eyes narrowing. "Stay back!" she yelled, leaping in front of me. A ball of fire appeared in her hand, growing hotter and larger by the second.
"Bang," she whispered.
The fireball shot out from her palm at incredible speed, but as it neared the spider, a wall of water formed in front of it. The fireball exploded in a flash of red and blue, sending steam billowing through the cavern.
"It can use magic !?," she said, concerned.
The spider's cheeks puffed up, filling with boiling water. It reared back and shot a torrent of scalding liquid toward us. I reacted instinctively, pushing Reyna out of the way and crashing on top of her just as the water splashed past us.
"Move!" she yelled, shoving me aside as another blast of water shot our way.
I scrambled to my feet and pulled out ten ice bombs from my inventory, hurling them at the spider. They exploded on contact, coating its legs in thick layers of ice. The creature winced, its movement slowing as the frost crawled up its body, freezing its legs to the ground.
I glanced at Reyna, who was already preparing her next attack. Her entire right arm was now engulfed in flame like feathers, the red feathers that covered her skin glowing like molten fire. With a swift arc of her hand, she sent a storm of feathers toward the immobilized spider, engulfing it in the feathers.
She snapped her fingers and yelled, "Phoenix Featherstorm!"
Instantly, each of the hundred feathers hovering in the air ignited, exploding in rapid succession. The underground chamber flickered with crimson flashes, accompanied by thunderous booms. Each blast carved a tiny crater in the colossal spider's frame. The unrelenting barrage persisted, wearing down the previously terrifying beast until it's movements grew sluggish. It managed to stand, wobbling on its legs, before collapsing to the ground and shattering into pixels.
I stood there, in awe of the sheer destructive power.
"What are those?" Reyna asked, pointing at the three bombs still clutched in my hand.
"Mana bombs," I replied proudly. "Each one is infused with a different Rank 1 magic."
She gave me a slight smile, amused as I boasted about how I'd acquired them from Crusaders.
"You only need to put in a single point of mana to activate them," I continued, a little too excited.
She nodded, and my attention shifted back to her. "And you? What about that 'Phoenix Featherstorm'? I've never heard of it before."
"That's because I created it," she said with pride.
"You invented your own spell? What rank is it?"
"Enough questions," she said, turning toward the opening. Her red hair flowed behind her like flames in the wind. With a casual flick of her wrist, she shot a blast of fire at the entrance, sealing it shut to prevent any more spiders from following us.
As we walked down the tunnel, she finally answered. "It's Rank 2," she said casually.
The hallway was long and winding, with spider tracks visible on the walls, ceiling, and floor. It was clear that hundreds of them used this path regularly. The more we walked, the more concerned I became. The sudden disappearance of the smaller spiders, and the fact that a mini-boss could use magic, was unsettling.
The path branched off into a maze of tunnels, each leading to different directions, and before long, we were hopelessly lost. The floor seemed endless, the paths twisting in on themselves, and time became a blur.
"I think we should warp out," I suggested.
"My guild is still in the tunnels," Reyna replied, her eyes scanning the tunnels ahead.
Warping out of the floor could work, but if we ever needed to return, we'd still be lost. Warping only takes you to the last spot you were on, unless it's your first time on the floor—then it sends you to a rune or a random safe location.
I sighed, knowing she was right. There was no easy way out of this labyrinth.
As we continued walking, a shrill scream pierced the air. Reyna immediately enveloped herself in a fiery aura and dashed ahead of me. I tried my best to keep up, but my speed stat was low, leaving me trailing behind. When I finally reached the opening of another massive cave, I saw two figures waiting outside. Above their heads, names floated: "LV6 G2 Eli" and "LV6 G2 Viri."
I quickly put on my night vision goggles to get a better look at our surroundings. The cave walls were riddled with webs, and large spider eggs were piled in the back. Just like before, there were hundreds of holes dotting the ceiling.
At the center of the cave, a massive creature loomed—The Spider Queen, a giant boss spider. She was engaged in battle with a middle-aged man clad in golden armor. His armor gleamed even in the darkness, adorned with hundreds of gems that shimmered faintly. His sword glowed, cutting through the shadows. Behind him, about 20 guild members lay on the ground, clearly on the brink of death. The man's name floated above his head: "LV5 Order Darius." His torn cape fluttered behind him.
Despite Darius's excellent swordsmanship, the Spider Queen toyed with him, dancing around the cave with a terrifying grace. I glanced around, checking for more spiders, when I noticed two tombstones stuck to the webs on the ceiling. One read Lia, and the other, Mia.
The guild members lying on the ground each had names and levels ranging from LV2 to LV4. Most of them were barely clinging to life, their health bars critical, bodies covered in Red.
"Run!" I yelled, drawing the attention of both Darius and the Spider Queen. They briefly glanced at me before resuming their deadly fight.
Eli spoke up, her voice calm. "They're paralyzed."
I turned to get a better look at her. Eli had long, flowing blonde hair that crackled with static energy. Her silver-blue eyes were intense but filled with a strange calm.
"What should we do, Guild Leader?" Eli asked, looking at Reyna with concern.
"We have to help them!" I shouted, starting toward the boss room. But Viri grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
"It's their fate," she said coldly, her voice unwavering.
Viri's presence was commanding. Her sharp gaze assessed me, clearly not trusting me just yet. I tried to pull away from her grip, but it was no use. Her hold was firm, and it was clear she wasn't about to let me interfere.
I looked back at Darius, still fighting the Spider Queen. His movements had grown faster, stronger, but it was clear the queen still wasn't taking him seriously. She used her extra legs to bounce across the room effortlessly, slicing into him with ease. Red seeped from his wounds as he cried out in pain.
"This is why big guilds fail," Viri said, her tone bitter. "They promote one or two players and neglect the rest."
I glanced up at her, her forest green hair flowing in the wind from the fight. Her expression was tense, as if she wanted to fight but couldn't.
"Who is this?" Eli asked, her eyes shifting toward Reyna.
"Arden," Reyna replied. "He's an enchanter. We fell into the same trap."
Eli gave me a shy smile and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Arden."
I tried to reach for her handshake, but Viri still held onto me. Eli shot her a sharp glare, and Viri reluctantly let go.
"Why aren't you helping them?" I asked, frustrated, looking at the group.
They exchanged glances before Reyna finally answered. "Helping them would only drag us into the same grave."
"That's not true! I saw what you could do!" I insisted.
Eli perked up. "Yeah, we could definitely help them escape! We were going to fight the boss either way ... What would Tenshi say?"
"We can't," Reyna sighed, looking at me. "Top guilds don't meddle in each other's boss fights." She glanced at Eli, her voice softening. "You know that."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from behind us. I turned to see two more G2 members approaching. Names floated above their heads: "LV6 G2 Seraphina" and "LV5 G2 Tenshi."
Tenshi stood out in the dim cave, her long silver-blue hair cascading down her back. She wore white robes with silver outlines, a pendant woven into her hair, and her deep blue eyes shimmered with concern. Beside her, Seraphina was a stark contrast, her face hidden behind a mask split cleanly down the middle—half white, half red, with the red side covering her left. A sniper rifle was strapped to Seraphina's back, her outfit pristine, while Tenshi's robes were tattered.
None of their armor was anything out of the ordinary. It was clear that this guild had a hard time getting by. Seraphina wore a long white cape over her viridian armor. Tenshi, standing out as the only one without a gun, seemed to be wearing simple robes with no protective gear. Reyna carried a revolver, her red armor matching the flames she controlled. Viri's green leather armor resembled Seraphina's, and she had a shotgun strapped to her back. Eli had two pistols holstered at her hips.
"What would who say?" Tenshi asked with a teasing tone, but her expression quickly shifted to shock.
Darius was sent crashing to the ground, the Spider Queen's legs spearing into his chest. His scream echoed painfully through the cavern as the giant spider injected its venomous fangs into him, his body convulsing from the poison.
"Why aren't you helping?!" Darius shrieked, his voice thick with pain and desperation.
Viri scoffed. "We're not obligated to help a lower ranked guild."
"Actually I think they are higher rank than us ." Reyna chuckled.
Viri crossed her arms, unbothered. "Why should we help a higher-ranked guild?"
Tenshi's face paled, her hands covering her mouth as if she was sick. She looked horrified, torn between her instincts and the invisible rules she was bound by. Viri sighed heavily, watching Tenshi's distress.
"Don't do anything rash," Viri said sternly. "You know we can't get involved."
Tenshi had already made up her mind. She broke into a sprint, charging toward Darius just as the Spider Queen prepared to deliver another lethal bite. Without hesitation, Tenshi threw herself between them. Her hands glowed a faint white, but it was clear she was out of mana—no skill activated. Still, she stretched out her arms in a desperate attempt to shield him.
Time seemed to slow down as I tried to rush in after her. My heart pounded, and I could see Viri glancing at Eli. Eli shook her head solemnly, then looked at me with an unreadable expression.
"No!" I screamed, my voice panicked.
"Earth Wall!" I heard Viri shout. A thick wall of earth erupted from the ground, wedging itself between the Spider Queen and Tenshi, stopping the deadly bite just in time. I glanced back, but Viri had already disappeared, moving too fast for me to follow.
The Spider Queen, momentarily caught off guard, was suddenly kicked back against the wall by Viri, who had reappeared in front of Tenshi.
"Eli, you're as useless as ever," Viri muttered, her voice filled with irritation."Tenshi, go heal the others!" she urged, handing over her mana potions.
After drinking the potions Tenshi clasped her hands together. A glowing rune formed beneath her, and she screamed, "Heal!"
A soft, white aura enveloped everyone in the cavern, washing away the pain and exhaustion. I felt the effects immediately, my body rejuvenated, stronger than even before I'd arrived. Without hesitation, I rushed into the cavern, with Eli and Reyna close behind me.
The Spider Queen, furious from being interrupted, let out a thunderous roar that echoed through the cavern. The scream sent a chill down my spine.
=======================
Spider Queen's Roar
Debuffs all opponents by 25%
Requirement: Higher level
=======================
Viri's confident expression faltered, sweat beading on her brow.
Suddenly, the Spider Queen's voice, sharp and shrill, pierced the air. "I can smell your fear. It feeds me more than you ever will."
The members of the Order seized their chance to escape, running past us without a second glance at Tenshi, who had healed them. Darius, like the others, seemed shocked and cowardly fled, letting out a scream as he did.
TUMBLE!
The sound of the cavern walls collapsing blocked the exits leaving Darius trapped with us. We were now trapped with the boss, who appeared delighted by this turn of events, a sly smile stretching across its face.
I glanced at the others—Tenshi looked worried; Reyna and Viri, preparing for the attack; and Eli, looked uncertain yet determined. Darius was frantically trying to move the rubble out of the way with his hands.