Chapter 60

2020/12/25 Replaced

Word count (including spaces and line breaks): 2515 characters

Word count (excluding spaces and line breaks): 2265 characters

The torrent of magic created by the blade of the magic stone transformed into flames and attacked the spiders.

"Kishaaa!"

The fiery ball exploded, directly hitting the leading group of spiders and instantly burning several of them to death.

The damage from the explosion did not stop there. The flames spread to the surrounding spiders, causing many to scream in agony, though not all were killed.

The spiders rolled around; those lucky enough to extinguish the flames survived, while others burned to death in agony.

Red flames and black smoke spread throughout the area.

Even the marshal spider, which was supposed to command the swarm, was affected.

"Gushaaa!"

Half of its body was engulfed in flames, and it screamed in pain.

The marshal spider tried to think about what had happened, but the pain interrupted its thoughts, preventing it from reaching a conclusion. Despite having twenty compound eyes, it could only see the burning flames and smoke from its fellow spiders.

That was why it took so long to realize it.

--It's gone!

The prey, it's nowhere to be found!

In the moment when the other side, obscured by flames and smoke, wavered slightly in the wind, the marshal spider's twenty eyes clearly saw that the prey, which should have been there, was no longer in its place.

"Gushaaa!"

Find it! Find that human!

While its thoughts were consumed by the pain of being burned, the marshal spider instinctively shouted, determined not to let the culprit who had killed many of its kind and invaded the queen's palace escape.

Just as it thought this, it suddenly realized something.

Where did the prey go?

Into the depths of the forest? Or to the place where the prey was trying to escape to?

Or somewhere else...?

"Kishaaa! Kishaaa!"

The cries came from the front, beyond the wall of flames and smoke.

Be careful, its fellow spiders were warning.

What, what should it be careful about? The marshal spider, frustrated by the vague warning cries, tried to think.

Fire? Smoke? Or... could it be!

The intelligent marshal spider quickly realized what was happening.

--The prey didn't run away! Its goal was...!

The marshal spider finally understood the prey's intention and was about to shout orders to the spiders.

"Gushaaa!"

"Like... I'll let you!"

Almost simultaneously with the marshal spider's cry, Node leaped over the wall of flames and smoke, appearing right in front of the marshal spider.

§

(Got it! It's injured!)

Using the dead spiders as a stepping stone, Node leaped over the wall of flames. As expected, the marshal spider was there, half of its body engulfed in flames, clearly suffering significant damage.

The initial strike from the magic sword was meant to blind and clear the way.

That it had injured the marshal spider was a stroke of luck.

(This is the only chance... I'll finish it here!)

"Haahaaa!"

Node leaped over the wall of flames and, while falling, raised his sword.

A powerful strike, enhanced by the speed of his fall.

"Gushaaa?"

The strike hit the marshal spider's face, shattering its chitin and slicing through several of its glowing compound eyes.

Node did not miss the opportunity as the marshal spider arched back in pain, and he launched a relentless attack.

Using the momentum from landing, he stomped the ground and delivered a diagonal strike, cutting off the spider's oral tentacles. He then brought the sword down from a high position and followed with a horizontal strike.

(No way... I'll let it escape!)

He cut, slashed, and cleaved, determined to inflict as much damage as possible before the spider could stop moving.

However, the marshal spider was not going to be a passive victim.

"Kyaaoo!"

"Ugh!"

A desperate strike. A simple horizontal swipe from a front leg, accompanied by a gust of wind, grazed Node's head. Even though it only grazed him, the impact was so strong that it felt as if his head had been severed.

--If it had hit me directly, it would have been over in one strike

Node was certain of the power behind the marshal spider's attack.

His instincts triggered a sense of fear, as if he had been doused in cold water.

The thought of regaining his composure crossed his mind.

(No, I can't retreat, not even a step!)

But Node reprimanded his own heart, which wanted to retreat in fear.

He knew that if he didn't finish this in one go, death was the only outcome.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh!"

"Gushaaa!"

Node took another step forward, forcefully.

The blade of emerald steel, charged with momentum, once again pierced the marshal spider's body.

One more strike, one more strike.

Node continued his attack, using every last bit of strength left in his body.

His muscles screamed for oxygen.

His brain ordered him to rest.

His joints ached from the strain of movement.

Ignoring all of this, Node continued his attack.

And finally, the moment arrived.

"Gi, gi, gi, gi, gi, gi, gi"

The marshal spider, unable to withstand the relentless assault, collapsed, its massive body sinking into the ground with a thud.

(This is it!)

Node did not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Using the marshal spider's front legs as a stepping stone, he leaped up with a surprisingly light movement, considering his armor, and landed on the spider's back.

(I learned from fighting your kind in the summer...)

The spider's heart is on its back.

Aiming for this vital point, Node poured all his strength into the blade of emerald steel and thrust it in.

Writing tense scenes is difficult, the author noted.

So, this is the latest chapter?

I hope to post the post-war and epilogue within the year...