Third Floor Trial: The Swarm of Venom
As Jihoon stepped into the third-floor trial, the air turned thick with the stench of rot, making it almost unbearable to breathe. The vast jungle-like terrain sprawled out before him, overrun by gigantic trees whose twisted branches formed a suffocating canopy, cutting off much of the natural light. The earth beneath his feet squelched with decay, alive with movement that hinted at the danger lurking below the surface.
In this treacherous, poisonous land, it wasn't just the air that posed a threat. This was the domain of the Venenatus Swarm, a monstrous army of venomous insects that towered over the average man. Jihoon's heart raced as he ventured forward, his senses heightened by the constant buzzing and skittering all around him. Each shadow seemed to move with malicious intent.
Armed with the Hell's Dagger, which crackled with a burning energy that could vaporize his enemies from the inside out, Jihoon braced himself for the onslaught.
Facing the Venenatus Swarm
First to emerge from the shadows were the millipedes—giant, writhing beasts over two meters tall, their massive bodies coiling around the trees as they made their way toward him. Their segmented forms undulated with a disturbing rhythm, their venom dripping from their fanged mouths. Without hesitation, Jihoon charged at them, slicing with his Hell's Dagger. The blade connected, igniting with a fiery burst as it pierced their exoskeletons, and the millipedes shrieked as they began to vaporize from the inside, their once formidable forms crumbling into ash.
Just as the millipedes fell, Jihoon was confronted by a new wave of enemies—ants the size of wolves, their mandibles clicking as they charged at him with terrifying speed. Their sharp legs tore through the earth, creating deep gouges in the ground as they swarmed. Jihoon activated the Cloak of Infinity, sending out a wave of force that made the ants stumble backward, disoriented. For a few moments, it seemed as if they were charging at him, yet they found themselves being inexplicably pushed further away, the Cloak's power distorting space between them. Jihoon took advantage of the momentary confusion, launching himself into the midst of the ants, his dagger slashing through their ranks, burning them from the inside until nothing remained but scorched husks.
The sky above grew dark as a swarm of wasps, each the size of wolves, descended from the canopy. Their buzzing filled the air like the roar of an engine as they darted toward Jihoon with deadly precision. He barely dodged a stinger aimed at his head, the ground sizzling where it struck. Using his Gloves of Chronos, he grabbed one of the wasps mid-flight, watching as it rapidly aged in his hands, its once powerful wings withering to dust before it collapsed, lifeless.
Slashing through the wasps with brutal efficiency, Jihoon moved with fluid grace, his dagger cutting through their hard exoskeletons. Each time the Hell's Dagger made contact, the burning effect activated, causing his enemies to explode in a fiery inferno from within.
The Human Chimera Spider Queen - Arachneis
After cutting through wave after wave of monstrous insects, Jihoon finally found himself at the heart of the jungle, where the massive, decaying roots of a colossal tree rose up before him. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the air was thick with the unmistakable aura of a powerful enemy.
From the shadows emerged the Human Chimera Spider Queen "Arachneis"—a grotesque fusion of a human woman and a monstrous spider. Her upper body resembled that of a beautiful yet unnerving woman draped in dark silk, her pale skin glistening unnaturally. Her lower body was a spider's, her legs sharp and polished like obsidian. Her eyes, both human and spider-like, gleamed with intelligence and malice.
"I see you've made it through my swarm," she hissed, her voice soft yet filled with venomous intent. "But now, you face me, You won't survive this encounter."
The Epic Battle
Jihoon wasted no time. He gripped the Hell's Dagger and charged toward Arachneis. She moved with a speed that belied her size, her sharp legs lashing out at him in a blur. He barely managed to dodge the first strike, the ground cracking where her leg struck.
Jihoon activated the Cloak of Infinity, and as she tried to close the distance, Arachneis found herself inexplicably moving further and further away. Her many legs skittered faster, but no matter how close she seemed, she couldn't reach him. It was as if they were worlds apart, separated by an invisible force. Her frustration grew, and she let out a furious shriek.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Jihoon darted forward, slashing at her spider legs. The Hell's Dagger ignited upon impact, vaporizing part of her leg as she howled in pain, staggering back.
Arachneis retaliated by unleashing a swarm of smaller spiders from her body, each one dripping with venom. Jihoon slashed through them with precision, his movements sharp and calculated. He activated the Gloves of Chronos, grabbing one of the spiders and watching as it withered into nothingness in his grasp.
The battle raged on, with Jihoon weaving through the Arachneis's attacks. Despite her power and size, her movements became slower as he chipped away at her legs, forcing her to rely more on her venomous silk. She lashed out, spraying webbing toward him, but Jihoon used the Cloak's power once more, keeping her at bay.
The Final Strike
With her legs damaged and her swarm destroyed, Arachneis grew desperate, lunging at him with a frenzied shriek. But Jihoon was ready. He sidestepped her attack, rolling beneath her massive body and driving the Hell's Dagger into her abdomen.
The blade ignited, sending waves of burning energy through her body. Arachneis let out a piercing scream as her insides began to vaporize, her body trembling with the sheer force of the attack. Her legs buckled, and with one final, earth-shattering cry, the Human Chimera Spider Queen "Arachneis" collapsed into a burt corpse.
After Sung Jihoon defeats Arachneis, the Human Chimera Spider Queen, a wave of poisonous mist floods the chamber, signifying her death. As the massive body of the queen crashes to the ground, her monstrous limbs twitching in her final moments, Jihoon stands victorious, his breath heavy from the intense battle. The heat from Hell's Dagger slowly dissipates, leaving only the smell of burning flesh from the queen's body.
A familiar notification pings in his vision, hovering just above the queen's remains.
[Congratulations! You have defeated the boss of the third floor, Arachneis.]
[Reward: 3,000 Achievement Points]
[Special Reward: Spider Silk Mantle]
[New Title Unlocked: "Conqueror of the Arachnid Abyss"]
The Spider Silk Mantle is described as a rare, lightweight cloak made from Arachneis silk, granting increased resistance to poison and agility while also providing temporary immunity to webs or entanglements.
Jihoon takes a breath, knowing how valuable this cloak would be for future battles. But something more important the Spider Silk Mantle was the spider queen skills.
Activating his Talent: Greed, Jihoon channels the energy from Arachneis fallen body. A sudden rush of power surges into him as he absorbs a portion of her stats—her agility, venomous strength, and spider-like reflexes flow into his system. His muscles tighten, and his mind sharpens as his body adapts to the newfound power.
Just then, another notification rings:
[You have absorbed the skill: Poison Blood (Advanced)]
The poisonous environment of the third floor will now have a much lesser effect on him. This skill gives resistance and makes him more adaptable for future encounters with venomous or toxic creatures, giving him a significant advantage in such dangerous realms. The skill also allowed him to use poison.
After collecting the rewards, Jihoon looks back at the third floor's decaying cityscape. This trial was unlike the others—far more deadly and gruesome. But he had survived.
Before him, another gate begins to materialize, leading to the fourth floor. Knowing the trials will only get harder from here, Jihoon steels himself for what's to come. But with the Spider Silk Mantle and his talent, he knows he's better equipped for the challenges that await.
As he steps through the gate, a faint thought lingers in his mind—what lies beyond these floors? What greater enemies and secrets does the Nether Realm still hold? There's something deeper at play, and with each floor he clears, Jihoon feels that he's getting closer to discovering the real truth behind the Nether Realm and its trials.
With determination in his heart, he disappears into the darkness of the next floor, ready for whatever comes next.