Alcard silently opened the heavy metal door, his heart racing as he spotted the three lion-sized cave spiders only about seven meters away.They were dormant, occasionally twitching, their massive forms casting eerie shadows on the floor."I have read about them, but it is my first time seeing a cave spider.""I thought at the very least they would be dog-sized, not lion-sized."Alcard couldn't help but smile grimly and shake his head, feeling fear crawl deep into his bones."There's no way I can pass them unnoticed," he thought, the weight of the danger pressing on him.He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the path he had taken to get here, mentally mapping the exit.He knew exactly where he needed to go, but the spiders stood directly in his way.Opening his eyes again, he silently issued a command to the Iron Butler.The crossbow was now fixed securely in its hand, ready to fire. "Shoot the closest spider," Alcard ordered in a hushed tone.The Iron Butler, moving with precise, mechanical motions, raised the crossbow and aimed at the nearest Cave Spider.The silver moonstone pulsed, feeding energy into the crossbow. A sharp bolt formed, and with a quiet hum of magic, the construct released the bolt, sending it hurtling toward the closest spider.From outside, everything looked simple, but from a magical standpoint, about two spells were activated with the order of Alcard, and more than ten to twenty steps of the algorithm that he set up worked.It is not easy to program a basic mechanical life to target and decide enough energy to and order it to attack a creature.First "Automation and Life" activated and siphoned energy from silver moonstone so that Iron Butler recognized the order of Alcard and moved his body to target the spider.Second, the "Bolt" or "Blast" spell activated and again siphoned enough energy according to calculations of Alcard to shoot the bolt.The Cave Spider let out a piercing, monstrous cry as the 15-cm sharp bolt completely punctured its body.It thrashed wildly, moving like a maniac, crashing into the other spiders in its frenzy.Alcard's heart pounded in his chest, but he knew this was his moment."Now!" he whispered to himself, breaking into a sprint toward the exit.The Iron Butler followed closely behind, its mechanical steps slower than Alcard himself.Alcard could feel the steps of the Cave Spiders behind him, but his focus remained on escape; it was his only priority.He kept running like his life depended on it, which was true as his life was dependent on it; if he gets caught, he will be dinner for the spiders.Alcard didn't stop for even a second, his legs moving in a desperate rhythm as he sprinted through the ruins.Glancing back, his stomach dropped when he saw the other two cave spiders rapidly gaining on him.Their massive legs carried them far faster than he could run.Without hesitation, Alcard issued another command to the Iron Butler."Shoot again!" he ordered; his voice carried fear and anxiety together.The Iron Butler raised the crossbow once more, but Alcard could feel it—the connection to his magic soul was telling him that the energy within the Iron Butler was draining fast.The Silver Moonstone was running low, and each shot was costing more power.The construct aimed, releasing another sharp bolt toward the advancing spiders.Alcard knew they wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. Time was running out, and if he couldn't escape soon, the Iron Butler's energy would be fully depleted, leaving him to face the spiders alone.The Iron Butler hit its target again, the bolt piercing another Cave Spider.It screeched and stopped in its tracks, flailing against the walls in a desperate frenzy.Although it wasn't dead, the disruption was enough to halt its pursuit, buying Alcard precious seconds.As Alcard's heart raced, he spotted the door he had entered through, only about one hundred meters away."I can make it!" he thought, hope surging within him.But as he glanced back at the remaining spider, dread filled him. He could see the creature closing in, its predatory instincts honed in on him."It'll catch me just before I reach the door!"Alcard felt an odd sensation wash over him—his mind was clearer and more powerful than ever, allowing him to grasp the threat and its timing with frightening accuracy.One look, and he was able to calculate the speed of the spider and his own speed, then find the exact time he would get caught.It was true that he was a genius back then on Earth, but not at this level at all."How am I understanding this?" he pondered, realizing it was the result of his enhanced intellect and memory. Yet it didn't change the fact that he was still in peril.He needed a solution, and fast. With the Iron Butler's energy depleting, he had to think on his feet."What if I can create a diversion?" he thought, formulating a quick plan as adrenaline surged through his veins.Alcard bit his lip, poised to order the Iron Butler to shoot the spider again, when suddenly, one of the construct's legs struck a large rock in their path.The impact caused the Silver Moonstone powering the crossbow to fall, clattering to the ground. Alcard gulped, a wave of dread washing over him."This is it. There's only one chance and one way to save myself," he thought, adrenaline flooding his body.Without hesitation, he commanded the Iron Butler, "Attack the spider! Use the bolt as a melee weapon!"The Iron Butler, responding immediately to the new directive, lunged forward.It grabbed the sharp bolt in its hand and charged at the nearest spider, swinging with all its mechanical strength.The construct was not built for close combat, but desperation fueled its movements.Alcard's heart raced as he watched the Iron Butler engage the spider, hoping that this sudden shift in tactics would give him the crucial distraction he needed to escape.The Iron Butler valiantly attempted to drive the bolt into the spider's thick chitin shell, but the creature's armor was impenetrable. In mere seconds, the spider's powerful legs tore the construct apart.Alcard watched as the glow faded from the Iron Butler's eyes, its mechanical life snuffed out.But the sacrifice had served its purpose. Alcard seized the opportunity, slipping through the gate just as the Iron Butler fell. Once inside, he sprinted down the pathway, and the heavy metal door clanged shut behind him.The two-meter-thick barrier was more than enough to withstand the furious spider's strikes, preventing it from pursuing him any further.Catching his breath, Alcard leaned against the wall, relieved to have escaped by such a narrow margin. The Iron Butler's sacrifice had granted him his survival."That was dangerous..." he said to himself.