Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Spiders Are Gross!
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The 11th floor stretching out before my eyes was a vast plain.
A wasteland made up of sparse patches of grass here and there and scattered small stones—that was the perfect way to describe it. And right in the middle, a pitch-black hole.
'That's the burrow where the Earth Spider is hiding.'
For starters, its outward appearance was definitely creepy.
A pitch-black burrow that let in not a single ray of light.
If I'd encountered it without any prior info, I might've had a total meltdown from the atmosphere alone. How do other hunters even enter this place without a flashlight?
First things first, the proof shot.
With cheers of support, I was about to enter the burrow when a problem arose.
"...Why don't I want to go in?"
Darkness could be chased away with light, but the shadows dancing along the flickering flames somehow nagged at me.
And on top of that, a spider lurking inside.
The thought of it—furry, multi-legged, with tons of beady eyes watching me before it lunged—gave me chills.
To put it simply, a physiological revulsion?
Insects with six legs are tolerable enough. But once they cross that line, they're basically monsters, not bugs.
Centipedes go without saying, and I really hate hairy spiders too. The only somewhat okay one is maybe a jumping spider?
No, but still, I'm not the type to chicken out over this.
Bragging big and then backing out later would just look pathetic.
Hoo, one more deep breath and a big step forward.
No, no. This isn't it. No way, no how.
The moment the darkness at the burrow's entrance touched me, goosebumps raced up my spine. It felt like countless eyes would sparkle in the deep shadows.
Shivering, I backed out of the burrow and this time doubled my Flame with Decalcomania, hurling it into the hole with all my might.
Soon, an explosion roared, flames surging back to the entrance, but the notification I awaited didn't appear.
If that's not enough... then more firepower!
I conjured Flames two at a time, lobbing them into the burrow one after another. Hoping the relentless blaze would roast or boil them alive, I kept slamming them in, over and over.
"Hah, hah..."
Only when my mana pool was nearly halved did the long-awaited Tower alert finally ring out.
I immediately headed out, collapsing onto the familiar beanbag in the waiting room to steady my mind and body.
This is weird. It shouldn't have been that scary... but since my body changed, my senses for fear or bugs feel hypersensitive in a bizarre way.
How am I supposed to handle the remaining four floors like this?
Facing this totally unforeseen issue, I even considered quietly deleting my post.
'No, a man's word is his bond!'
Once my mana had mostly recovered, I entered the 12th floor to brainstorm more methods. If worst comes to worst, I'd repeat the process.
The floor I reached naturally had two burrows waiting for me.
"No way... one per burrow?"
That was a problem.
Clearing one burrow already cost half my mana—an utter inefficiency—and now two? I had to avoid the same method and find a proper way through.
The thing was hiding underground, and though I hadn't entered, the inside was probably a complex maze.
Should I send in Dali? What if she got hurt or the summon broke?
Haa, maybe just go in. My defenses with the Orb and Dali are plenty solid anyway. I just need to endure the creepy feeling.
...No, let's think one more time.
A way to fight without entering.
I sat down in the wasteland, pondering, when I noticed the pet rock Dali always clutched so preciously.
The expert in headbutts and magic stone cracking: Rock.
'It's hiding underground, so maybe use that against it with a direct attack?'
Not long ago, I'd manifested sand while creating a subspace.
Recreating the tactile feel and energy of sand underfoot, I kicked off my shoes and stood barefoot on the ground.
Wiggling my toes to sense the soil, I visualized the visible energy of the earth alongside it.
With Drawing, I pulled forth the earthy brown energy, making it spike up like thorns.
Kududuk—
A section of ground shattered sharply, surging upward like stalagmites.
"Nice, this could work..."
Confirming the potential, I focused mana in my eyes, maxing out Clairvoyance to peer underground.
Beneath, filled with earth's energy, a faintly visible space sprawled like a maze.
And in the faintest, widest part—a cavern-like area.
I climbed atop it and swiftly sketched an image filling that space with countless thorns.
Stalactites and stalagmites erupting from all sides, packing the space with earth's energy. I did the same to the adjacent burrow, filling it with earthen spikes, and the Tower alert rang.
Ah, creating skills is so fun?
Plus, unlike fire or water, earth has a physical form, making it easy to visualize.
Suddenly struck by another fun idea, I dove straight into the 13th floor and grabbed my brush.
A three-pronged maze. I roughly mapped the terrain with a rough sketch, then shattered the central axis to collapse it.
On the greatly weakened ground, I drew Broken Needles clashing into each other, shaking the turbulent earth energy. I manifested an earthquake, creating artificial distortion.
'Earth Quake.'
Kururung—the ground thundered like lightning, the earth's axis fully crumbling as it devoured the burrow's empty space and shattered.
"Siiiit!"
"Siiit, siii—!"
Jet-black, massive spiders bursting from the collapsing dirt. Instinctively guiding the crumbling energy, I thrust my brush forward; the cracked earth's surface sharpened, impaling them.
'Broken Needle.'
In an instant, atop the upturned earth, three Earth Spiders collapsed, spewing yellowish fluid. Wow... check out that power. At this level, ground monsters like Sand Fish or Earth Spiders will be a piece of cake.
I snapped a proof shot and uploaded it to Tower Gallery, countless hooks tugging my lips upward.
Yikes, when did Cheon I-ryeong log into the Tower?
Not knowing I'm Angry Picasso, she jumped straight into recruitment the moment she appeared, like déjà vu. Makes you see why she runs a major guild.
I ignored her comment and returned to the waiting room, where experience alerts greeted me alongside a new skill creation.
Another A-Rank skill. A collaboration between the Earth Quake that took down the Earth Spiders just now and Broken Needle. Like Crimson Flame Jewel, combining two skills evolved it into a higher grade.
"Ahh, just how far can I go?"
I'd briefly envied telekinesis once, but Artist was the best after all. At this point, isn't it beyond S-Rank, straight to EX-Rank trait?
Brimming with joy, I challenged the 14th floor next.
This time, six burrow entrances sprawled wide. About to unleash Ground Breaker for a quick clear, but Dali—looking bored—approached one.
"Gonna go in? It's dangerous, so stay back, Dali."
"⎛⎝( ・ ㅡ ・ )⎠⎞"
Dali raised her short arms high; a water droplet formed between her hands, swelling rapidly. A water bomb laden with fierce rapids grew with a menacing kwakwa.
"Oh... finally some water spirit magic!"
I wondered what she'd do with it. Crush the burrow with sheer weight? Sweep them away entirely?
In eager anticipation, I watched her hurl the water bomb. The orb split into six streams, surging toward the entrances.
Kwaruruk—fierce torrents endlessly filled the burrows, and by the time Dali's orb vanished...
"...You filled them with water...?"
The exposed burrow entrances sloshed, submerged.
And soon, the Tower's clear alert chimed.
In the most anticlimactic fashion, Dali had drowned the Earth Spiders.
'...Is she a genius?'
While I was flipping earth for show, she'd simply flooded the place and cleared the 14th floor. I was in awe of her.
"Siiiiiiit— siiit—"
Deep underground.
One Earth Spider, sunk in deep hibernation, let out an irritated cry at the thump thump echoing around.
Its head finally quieted. As it tried to drift back to sleep, droplets began drip drip from the ceiling, soon turning into a thick stream pouring down.
And of all places, right onto the crimson-black Earth Spider's head—center stage. Unable to endure it, the Ancient Earth Spider rose, its dark red body heaving.
"Siaaaaaah—!"