Chapter 16

A large black spider raised its front legs to intimidate.

However, ignoring its threat, I immediately leaped into the black spider's embrace.

*Shiiiaaa!*

Of course, if I were to merely observe, I would be unfit as a monster.

The black spider, in response to my approach, swung its left front leg down towards my head.

The dull, glinting edge of that limb was nothing but a sharp scythe. If it hit me directly, it would impale me mercilessly.

However, I had no intention of accepting that passively.

(The position is too high, making it a bit difficult—)

Slightly delaying the timing, I swung my sword horizontally.

My target was the edge of that descending limb. I struck it with the pommel of my sword.

Sword Technique—Gentle Form, Flowing Water: Finger Scraping.

Using the pommel to push the opponent's blade and alter its trajectory.

Simultaneously, the recoil changed the trajectory of my own strike, and the tip of my sword was drawn into the joint of the scythe-like front leg.

A derivative of the Flowing Water technique, which combines parrying and attacking at the same time.

If it fails, you could be cut on the spot, making it a highly difficult technique, but the return is also very significant.

Originally, it was a technique using a wakizashi or short sword, aimed at cutting off the opponent's thumb.

Without a thumb, one cannot grip a sword. Hence, it can be called a kind of decisive technique.

However—

"Damn, it's hard."

The blade barely cut through, but it didn't sever the front leg.

If I had cut it off with that strike, it would have been much easier, but things don't always go that smoothly.

However, I now have a grasp of its strength. With this, I can handle it.

*Gigi...!*

The black spider, emitting a sound like branches rubbing together, reflexively pulled back its limb.

It was a natural reaction if it felt pain, but with the hard front leg out of the way, it was convenient for me.

Sword Technique—Gentle Form, Moon Wheel.

From the stance after the swing, I switched the grip and, using only the movement of my wrist, rotated the blade vertically and brought it down.

It was like drawing a full moon, a stationary sword technique that doesn't move the body at all.

There's no preparatory motion unless you focus on the wrist, and it's a strike that even experts often can't predict.

That strike instantly descended on the spider's face, embedding itself in one of its eyes.

Though it was a strike that's hard to apply force to, it was easy enough to tear through the soft flesh.

The moment the blade embedded itself in the eye, I immediately stopped the momentum and halted the sword.

"—Die."

I then advanced with a sliding step, thrusting the burning sword, held in a low stance, into the socket of the eye.

With the intent to kill with this strike—

*Giiiiii!*

But at that moment, the black spider leaped back, retreating.

It wouldn't let me finish it off so easily. The black spider, sensing the danger, decided to retreat when its eye was burned.

It might have reacted reflexively to the burning of its eye, but in any case, it managed to avoid the attack.

Well, it wouldn't be fun if it ended so quickly.

As a boss, it should at least provide some entertainment.

"Well, what will you do?"

Without shifting my center of gravity, I approached the black spider, sliding smoothly, and assumed the dragonfly stance.

While maintaining a posture ready to leap in, I gradually closed the distance.

The black spider, seemingly wary of my approach, stopped moving and crouched low.

Then—its abdomen was raised high.

*—!*

Footwork—Severe Shock.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I instinctively stepped forward.

Lowering my body, I converted my entire weight into forward momentum.

Though not as fast as when I was in the Mist stance, I still charged at the black spider with more than enough speed.

—Something white passed over my head.

"So, it's a thread!"

What passed over my head was a thread released from the tip of the black spider's abdomen.

If it had been divided into several strands and spread out like a web, I would have had to make a large evasion if I hadn't approached.

Moreover, if my timing had been even a moment late, I might have touched the threads that spread below.

Praising my own intuition, I swung my sword down at the black spider I had approached.

*Gigi!?*

The black spider, in the position to release the thread, had raised its abdomen and was crouched.

In this position, it was not prepared to be approached.

The black spider let out a surprised cry and instinctively shielded its head with its front legs.

Though the front legs were extremely sturdy, once I had inflicted a wound, I could target that spot.

"—*Sword of Life*"

My HP decreased, and the blade glowed with a golden light.

With that glow, I swung my sword at the joint of the black spider's front leg.

The sword left a golden trail in the air, and with the momentum of the charge and my entire weight, it slid into the joint of the black spider.

That strike completely severed the black spider's left front leg.

*Giiiiii—!*

Green bodily fluid splattered, and a scream-like cry rose.

While listening to it, I took a large step to stabilize my stance and, using the momentum of that step, reversed the sword strike.

The blade, which had been brought down, was raised again as I regained my stance, tracing a completely opposite trajectory.

The target was the spider's head—but that strike was accidentally blocked by the right front leg.

"Damn..."

I spat and took a step back.

Even if it was accidental, engaging in a blade lock here would be pointless.

In terms of strength, the opponent was probably superior. A straightforward confrontation would be disadvantageous.

In any case, I had taken one of its weapons. The options available to the opponent had decreased.

The black spider, with its eyes reddening even more, cut itself free from the threads and stood up.

Then, it raised its right front leg and swung it at me.

"Going for that side, huh?"

This was one of the actions I had predicted, so I took two more steps back to get out of the attack range.

However, the black spider advanced, chasing after me, and swung its left front leg.

"Hah, too bad for you."

With that movement, I advanced with a smile.

Originally, it was probably a pattern to attack with the right and left front legs in succession.

But unfortunately, the left front leg was cut off halfway.

In that state, it couldn't attack.

I approached the black spider, which had swung its front leg forcefully and leaned to one side, and swung my sword at one of its left legs.

"Once more, *Sword of Life*"

I reduced my HP again to increase the power of the strike.

The strike, delivered from the Eight Directions stance, severed the leg, which was thinner than the front leg, at the joint.

Confirming this up close, I released my left hand from the sword as I brought it down and drew my short sword in a reverse grip.

Then—

"—*Sword of Seizure*"

*Shiiiaaaa!*

The black spider, turning around in anger, had its largest eye on the side targeted by the short sword, which I thrust and gouged.

It was probably trying to bite me. But for me, it was an easy target. I took advantage of the opportunity without hesitation.

I applied *Sword of Seizure* to the short sword and also recovered some HP.

Thanks to the *Critical Hit* effect, the damage increased, and I was able to recover a sufficient amount of HP.

*Giiiiiiiiiiii!*

The black spider, arching its body and shaking its head, tried to shake off the short sword.

But the deeply embedded short sword wouldn't come out.

And while it was stopped—

"I'll take another one. *Sword of Life*"

I activated *Sword of Life* again and severed another leg in front of me.

Unable to maintain its stance with three out of four legs on one side cut off, the black spider lost its balance and was slammed to the ground.

*Gi, gi...!*

"...Is that all?"

In a crouched position, the black spider couldn't raise its right front leg and only let out a groaning cry.

Looking down at it, I narrowed my eyes and raised my sword to the upper stance.

I didn't know if it had any other tricks, but if it couldn't move properly, I would end it here.

Looking straight at the black spider, which was looking up at me, I brought my sword down on its head.

The sword, unobstructed, split the black spider's head vertically—its HP was completely shattered.

*Your level has increased. Please allocate your status points.*

*The skill level of *Sword* has increased.*

*The skill level of *Critical Hit* has increased.*

*The skill level of *Sword of Life* has increased.*

*Your level has reached 10. A new skill slot has been added.*

The information sounded, confirming that I had completely defeated the black spider.

Exhaling deeply, I shook off the bodily fluid on my sword and sheathed it.

I then retrieved the short sword—along with it, the black spider's body disintegrated into particles of light.

However, a new slot has been added. I can finally set *Sword of Demon Slaying*.

"Hmm... Well, that's about it."

"Good work, Quon. Honestly, I thought you'd take longer to defeat it..."

Iori, who had been smashing the surrounding eggs, returned, carrying her naginata on her shoulder.

I had noticed her presence, but she seemed to have been searching for eggs in a hurry.

"You seemed quite anxious. Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just... technically, smashing eggs also counts as combat contribution, so I was trying to increase the reward by destroying all of them... but Quon was stronger than I imagined, so I had to run around."

"Oh, I see... Sorry, I didn't know that."

"No, I didn't explain it either, and it would be odd to ask you to buy time for the sake of contribution."

I nodded at Iori's wry smile.

If she wasn't concerned, there was no need to worry.

"In any case, let's check the rewards. Did you get any threads? I got two threads."

"Right, I got seven threads."

I had seven threads, eight hairs, two fangs, and one blade from the Great Forest Spider.

It was a decent amount of items, but what should I do with this blade?

■*Material* Great Forest Spider's Thread

Weight: 2

Rarity: 2

Effect: None

■*Material* Great Forest Spider's Hair

Weight: 1

Rarity: 2

Effect: None

■*Material* Great Forest Spider's Fang

Weight: 1

Rarity: 3

Effect: Poison

■*Material* Great Forest Spider's Blade

Weight: 6

Rarity: 4

Effect: None

The blade seems to be a relatively rare item.

It doesn't seem to be something I can use, but it might be useful for making a sword.

"Nine threads... Yes, that's enough. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Sure, I did it for the reward. Anyway, can you hurry back and start making the equipment?"

"Of course. Let's head back to town."

In any case, the goal is achieved.

Once the equipment is ready, we'll move forward.

■Avatar Name: Quon

■Gender: Male

■Race: Human

■Level: 10

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 16

VIT: 12

INT: 16

MND: 12

AGI: 11

DEX: 11

■Skills

Weapon Skill: *Sword: Lv.10*

Magic Skill: *Enhancement Magic: Lv.7*

Set Skill: *Critical Hit: Lv.8*

*HP Auto Recovery: Lv.3*

*MP Auto Recovery: Lv.3*

*Sword of Seizure: Lv.5*

*Identification: Lv.8*

*Sword of Life: Lv.5*

*Sword of Demon Slaying: Lv.1*

Sub Skill: *Mining: Lv.1*

■Current SP: 6