Ma... Mage?
Rerto Karen stared at my Nute with a bewildered expression. Unlike before, his confused face was quite a sight.
Indeed, in Dimension World 1, Kim Do-hyun's class was the ice lineage hidden class, Supreme.
I could clearly sense his intent to analyze me from his gaze.
But how...
He couldn't easily continue. And rightly so—there was no way to explain how I could use extreme ice magic here other than the effect of the Memory Borrower title.
But he couldn't bring it up because of the post he'd uploaded to the community himself.
He wrote that the Memory Borrower title has no magic-related abilities.
The moment he asked me would shatter his pride as the top of the eight great clans.
Because of his own firmly stated post, Rerto Karen couldn't ask anything despite the flood of questions swirling in his mind right now.
"What're you doing? I said let's go in."
I gestured with my chin toward his dazed face and the door inside.
You have opened the door to the final floor of the tomb.
A sinister energy wafted out from inside the iron door.
The chill emanating from the vast hall felt entirely different from anything before.
Will you challenge the Queen's Nest?
Please press the [Accept] button if you wish to proceed.
Once you enter the lowest floor, you cannot exit until the conquest is complete.
For the first time, the notifications I'd brushed off as trivial induced silence amid the killing intent seeping from the door crack.
"Phlia. Priority one: put the spider queen to sleep and secure the chest. Got it?"
She nodded slowly at my words. Even for her, this was the first time reaching the tomb's lowest floor, so tension was inevitable.
"Here."
I handed the sleep powder to Red Sickle.
"Has to be right in the eyes for it to work. The powder won't stick anywhere else because of the slimy shell."
"Got it."
Even Red Sickle replied with a slightly stiff face. Even the leader of the Red Cat Mercenaries was no exception.
This should be fun.
Unlike the two, only Black Eye seemed to be enjoying the tension.
A chilling poison is detected.
Beware—the Spider Queen's breath carries venom.
A stinging sensation on my skin. I was tense just like them.
And for good reason—this was my first time hunting the spider queen too.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled, and my breath fogged like midwinter.
Did catching the Spirit Devourer scare you?
Black Eye teased me.
It's different from back then. We had a raid party-sized group.
What about the White Swamp's ancient turtle? I wouldn't think the spider queen is way stronger than that monster—you soloed it.
I could only give a wry smile at his words. He didn't know I'd soloed the White Swamp boss because I'd fought it enough times to memorize its patterns.
What I'm saying is, have some confidence. Especially since... you're the one who has me as a familiar, aren't you?
Over-the-top confidence. Fitting for the one once called the War God—I couldn't help but chuckle.
...Time to greet the guests. Very vicious ones, at that.
That was when it happened.
The sinister fog laced with poison slowly cleared, revealing the massive spider queen on a web of tightly woven threads. Her eyes opened.
Her upper body resembled a human, but from the waist down, it was grotesquely spider-like. Her eight legs were pillar-thick, making her humanoid torso seem small by comparison.
So you're the ones. I hear the agonized screams of my children, slain by you...
Kaaaaak---!!!
The moment everyone entered the queen's nest, a piercing voice rang in our ears.
"Plug your ears!"
At my shout, everyone assumed defensive stances, and Phlia vanished as if waiting for it.
"Kuh...!!"
"Cough!"
Rerto and Red Sickle writhed in pain from her scream.
Giant's Battle Armor exclusive effect - Fear Immunity activated!
Fear of large monsters reduced.
Fear effect and duration reduced by 30%.
For a moment, my body stiffened, but Giant's Battle Armor flashed as if repelling the spider queen's scream.
Paat-!!
I shook off the paralysis first and charged into the spider queen's embrace, shoving the other two aside.
I glanced at Rerto Karen, still frozen in place.
Showing him magic to confuse him is one thing, but using Chil-ya Sword Style too would be bad. No need to reveal all my cards.
But how do you plan to fight without your sword?
With this.
I pulled out the flint from Malphaga I'd gotten in the auction house basement.
Kang-!!!
I slammed the flints together with all my might. A crisp sound rang out, followed by whoosh—a flame sparked.
At the same time, I eyed Phlia, who was stealthing toward the spider queen's rear.
It'll take time for Red Sickle's paralysis to wear off. Need to lure her my way first.
Effect of Scale of Indomitable activated!
Since I'd used Nute recently to fool Rerto, my stamina hadn't fully recovered—my head throbbed for a moment.
Whoosh...!
But as mana condensed, the flint's flame belched massive smoke and roared to life.
"Over here!!"
I hurled the flame at the egg pile on the spider queen's web with all my strength.
Stop!!
Having slain all the spiders on every floor on the way down, these might be the queen's last children. She shrieked sharply at the sight and lunged at me.
Kwang---!!
The flint flame clung to her leg, spreading without extinguishing.
But the queen ignored the fire and reached for me.
Spider Queen unleashes Wrathful Web!
Chwarururuk……!!!
Blade-sharp webs sprayed everywhere, engulfing me.
That was when it happened.
"This way!!"
Rerto Karen blocked my path, pointed his silver blade sword downward, and stabbed the floor.
Ching-!!
He twisted the hilt, and the blade's side unfolded like a shield.
Did it have a function like that?
I was startled by the unexpected feature on what I'd thought was just a decorative honor sword, but I hurriedly leaped behind his back.
"Hraaaah!!!"
Rerto Karen's silver power spreads around.
Glory's Protection Lv2 used!
Physical barrier generated within 3m guardian radius!
A milky barrier formed around the embedded sword, and the webs lunging at me sizzled and burned away in an instant.
Nooooom-!!!!!
Seeing her webs melt, the spider queen raised her body with a sharp cry.
Scang-!!
In that instant, Red Sickle's chakram sliced through the air, carving her left shoulder.
Kaaaaak...!!!
But even his full-force chakram blade couldn't fully pierce her tough skin and bounced off.
Still, wounding her was enough to disrupt her focus.
Pat-! Papat-!!!
Red Sickle nimbly climbed her leg and jammed the sleep powder into her face.
The glass vial shattered with a crash, scattering powder straight onto her face.
Chiiiiiik!!!
As if splashed with acid, black smoke billowed from where the powder touched her face.
Guh...! Guh...!!
Unable to breathe, the queen shuddered violently, gasping roughly.
"It's working."
Rerto Karen shouted excitedly at the sight. As Glory's Protection faded, he staggered wearily.
He'd survived thanks to the barrier, but the level gap with the spider queen had dealt him significant damage.
"Got it!!"
At that moment, Phlia, who'd circled behind the queen, grabbed the small chest and yelled.
Opening it revealed a single small ring inside.
Phlia (NPC) has acquired the Tomb Heaven Enchantment Ring.
I clenched my fist at the notification.
"Now to finish her...!!"
That was when it happened.
You think I'll sleep so easily...!!
"...?!!"
"...!!!!"
Incredibly, the spider queen's back split open, and a massive third eye burst forth, gleaming.
Pathetic!!
"Damn...!!"
A third eye inside the spider's abdomen—who'd have thought?
Totally unexpected.
Spider Queen opens her third eye.
Spider Queen's damage reduction effect increased by 100%.
Enemy attack success rate reduced by 80%.
Awake...! My children!!
The third eye wobbled like a marble, cracking the remaining egg pile. Tiny corpse spiders burst out.
Churik...! Churirik...!!
I'll feed you...! Fill my long-starved children's hunger with your flesh!
The queen's cry filled the hall.
"Damn...!!"
Red Sickle eyed the approaching spiderlings and infused his remaining chakram.
Jijik...! Jik!!
The chakram's rim crackled with lightning.
"I'll hold them off."
"You can't solo that! Wanna die?"
Rerto Karen blocked his path. He spat out the potion in his mouth.
"Then what?!"
"...I'll go. I'll pull all the bugs' aggro, so you two take the queen."
"What?"
"No point telling an NPC, but in that world, I'm tank No.1."
Rerto Karen gritted his teeth, gripped his sword, and charged the corpse spiders.
"Kim Do-hyun!! If either of us dies here, the eight great clans won't let you off. So succeed in the hunt, no matter what."
"Don't embarrass yourself by dying."
"You neither."
I burst into an odd laugh at his words.
"What's the plan now?"
"Stay calm. She's bellowing, but notice—since opening the third eye, she hasn't moved. Sleep powder's helping, but that eye's definitely defensive, not offensive."
"So how?"
Insolent fools...!!! It's over now!
Sagagak!! Sagagak!!
As the queen cried out, Rerto Karen raised his sword against the swarming spiders.
Wrath swirls around Rerto Karen.
Battlefield Taunt Lv1 used!
Corpse Spiders gaze at Rerto Karen.
The spiders charging us wheeled toward Rerto en masse.
He sprinted with all his might toward the nest's edge, pulling the swarm away from the queen.
"Kim Do-hyun!!!!"
He screamed like a madman while running for his life.
"Phlia!!"
At my shout, she hurled the Tomb Heaven Enchantment Ring she held.
Thuk—it landed perfectly in my hand, gleaming.
You have acquired the Tomb Heaven Enchantment Ring.
Without hesitation, I slipped the ring onto my second finger.
Whiriririk……!!!
Dozens, hundreds of silver threads erupted from the ring, coiling around my hand.
You have equipped the Tomb Heaven Enchantment Ring.
You can now use the ring's skill.
The ring's skill has been automatically equipped to skill slot 3. (Can vary by user.)
"What else?"
Feeling the ring's taut pull, I said to Red Sickle,
"We catch her."