Surrounded by dozens of spiders, each with their large, crimson, compound eyes locked onto the intruder, a peculiar aura of patience radiated from them. It was as though they possessed an innate understanding, waiting for their mother's command before taking any action. The scene before them was nothing short of repulsive, with piles of bones melding together, dried blood scattered throughout, and intricate webs draping the entire area. In this vast expanse, the broodmother found ample room for her sizable frame to recline comfortably.
Upon sensing the intrusion into her domain, a resonant screech emanated from the broodmother. In response to this eerie sound, the surrounding spiders sprang into action, moving with uncanny synchrony as they surged towards Asher and his guardian. Their movements were a grotesque spectacle to behold, resembling a nightmarish ballet. The spiders, with their angular, arachnid limbs, moved in a twisted harmony, their crimson eyes gleaming with malevolence. Their steps were unnaturally coordinated as they closed in on Asher and his guardian. It was a chilling display.
there were around six of them that had been sent out to kill them, as they approach Asher stayed composed, appreciating the fact that it wasn't hundreds of them that came at once. as they closed in close enough, it was time for Asher to make his first move.
"Guardian, unleash your new ability 'Shield Throw'!"
Upon receiving the command, the guardian hurled his shield towards the nearest spider with precision. The shield cut through the air, spinning horizontally, and its impact was imminent. The moment it struck, half of its potential damage had already been inflicted. With a base damage from his skill ranging from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 15, further enhanced by the shield's added damage, offering a supplementary 5 at the least and 6 at most. The combined damage of this attack promised a devastating output, ranging from 15 to a staggering 21 in damage. Considering the Duskbiter spider's 30 health points, a single blow from the guardian's shield throw would undoubtedly cleave away at least half of its vitality.
The initial strike had landed, but the shield displayed a relentless determination. Upon making contact with its first target, it rebounded with surprising agility, seeking out the next enemy in its path. With uncanny precision, it ricocheted three more times, striking each adversary with relentless force. Then, upon reaching its fourth intended victim, it swiftly reversed course, returning to the guardian's waiting right arm. Asher couldn't help but draw parallels to Captain America's iconic use of his shield.
In a swift and decisive move, Asher's guardian delivered a powerful basic attack that sealed the fate of the weakened spiders. The attack, both from the raw force of the swing and the reflected damage when he deftly blocked their retaliatory strikes with his shield, proved overwhelming. The remaining two healthy spiders fared no better, succumbing to a combination of skillful strikes and expertly timed blocks from the guardian. Their resistance crumbled, and the threat they posed dissolved into the darkness of the cavern, leaving Asher and his guardian victorious in the wake of their fierce battle.
You have killed a 'Duskbiter Arachnid'. You have earned 6 EXP! X 6
EXP (41/300)
Their fleeting victory was abruptly shattered by the bone-chilling shriek of the broodmother, heralding a looming, more ominous threat. Responding to her command, a dozen spiders burst forth, as if she had astutely gauged their strength and orchestrated a challenge of greater magnitude. The odds had doubled, and Asher and his guardian now confronted an new wave of onslaught.
"On my command..."
With resolve in his eyes, Asher positioned himself behind his guardian, who took on the role of the vanguard against the upcoming horde of spiders. The arachnid foes skittered relentlessly toward them, yet Asher remained poised, patiently waiting for them to draw nearer.
"Now! Use provoke!"
The guardian stood firm, executing the provoke ability with unwavering composure, taunting all dozen spiders in their direction. A barrage of attacks descended upon him, but in a brilliant twist of strategy, a portion of the inflicted damage was deftly reflected back onto their assailants. The battle had escalated into a thrilling contest of wit and resilience.
As Asher observed his guardian's life steadily diminishing, he remained steadfast, resisting the urge to act prematurely. The dire situation demanded patience and precision, and he bided his time, waiting for the opportune moment to make his move.
https://i.imgur.com/aUbBqVc.png [https://i.imgur.com/aUbBqVc.png]
https://i.imgur.com/yNazFZl.png [https://i.imgur.com/yNazFZl.png]
You have killed a 'Duskbiter Arachnid'. You have earned 6 EXP! (47/300)
Asher's strategy played out as he had envisioned. The unrelenting assault from the spiders resulted in significant reflected damage, gradually wearing them down until their health plummeted to the brink of defeat. It was a daring gambit, requiring his guardian to absorb multiple blows at the expense of his own health. But Asher knew the opportune moment would come, and when it did...
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
https://i.imgur.com/NsRj5iy.png [https://i.imgur.com/NsRj5iy.png]
"Now! Soulful Restoration!"
https://i.imgur.com/JBdxp7E.png [https://i.imgur.com/JBdxp7E.png]
... he would unleash his healing powers to rejuvenate his guardian and turn the tide of battle in their favor. The battle was a high-stakes dance of risk and reward, and Asher was determined to emerge victorious.
You have killed a 'Duskbiter Arachnid'. You have earned 6 EXP! X 11
EXP (113/300)
Asher wasn't foolish. He knew this strategy had its limits and couldn't be used too often. One big issue was mana. His skills and his minion's abilities used up mana, so he couldn't overdo it. That's why he waited until his guardian's health was close to half before acting. By healing him just above 60%, he could let his passive skill gradually bring his guardian back to full health. Asher was playing it smart, knowing when to use his skills and when to let nature take its course.
Asher could sense the broodmother's growing irritation as she watched her offspring fall one by one. Realizing that her forces were dwindling rapidly, she let out one final, furious shriek, commanding the remaining spiders to end the intruders. Nearly 30 spiders began advancing toward them, a formidable force that Asher knew he couldn't handle alone.
He swiftly ordered his guardian to prepare. With a keen eye, Asher assessed the formation of the spiders, pinpointing the spot with the highest concentration of arachnids lined up in a row. He saw an opportunity not only to eliminate as many of them as possible but also to advance toward a specific destination.
"Shield Charge over there, and keep going even after passing through them!"
The guardian followed Asher's command without hesitation, launching into a powerful charge that mowed down any spider unfortunate enough to cross its path. With a base damage of at least 50, the spiders stood no chance, crumbling under the force of a single blow. The guardian surged past about five of them, reducing their numbers to around 25.
You have killed a 'Duskbiter Arachnid'. You have earned 6 EXP! X 5
EXP (143/300)
As Asher watched the spiders change course abruptly, heading back to protect their threatened mother, he couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle.
"Huh? Ha! I was planning on running around until my guardian's provoke cooldown was finished, but I guess there's no need for that now."
With the spiders retreating to shield their broodmother, the immediate threat had temporarily subsided, affording Asher some respite.
Shriek!!!!
A deafening screech reverberated through the cave, signifying the successful hit from Asher's guardian's shield charge on the massive broodmother. Trapped by her own size and the confined space of the cave, she had no means of evading the inevitable attack. The returning spiders, driven by a desperate need to protect their mother, hurried back to her side.
Seizing this opportunity, Asher ordered his guardian to assault the immobile broodmother relentlessly, aiming to stack as much damage as possible. Inevitably, the spiders reached their mother's defense, swarming the guardian. Just as before, Asher allowed the spiders to assail his guardian, knowing it couldn't continue indefinitely. He provided two more rounds of healing to bolster his guardian's resilience, and when the cooldown on his shield charge was finally over, he issued the command once more. The guardian plowed its way through the clustered spiders, decimating most of them in the process.
You have killed a 'Duskbiter Arachnid'. You have earned 6 EXP! X 14
EXP (227/300)
"Things are actually working out well for me, there's only a few dozen spiders left, things should end soon.," Asher remarked, his gaze fixed on the current state of the battle.
However, his optimism was short-lived.
"What?! What is it doing?!"
To his shock, the broodmother began cannibalizing her own offspring, consuming their flesh and swallowing even those that had fallen in battle and were near her. The gruesome turn of events added a chilling and unpredictable dimension to the already intense battle. Something unexpected was unfolding, a development that threatened to dramatically alter the course of the battle.
Broodmother used 'Sacrificial Birth'!
"Sacrificial birth?"
Objective updated! Trial's Objective: Defeat the Broodmother Widowblood, The Blood-Born
Suddenly, the broodmother let out a chilling shriek, an ear-piercing scream that echoed with agony. Her abdomen throbbed violently, visible bulges surfacing and receding like unborn creatures pounding from within, reminiscent of restless entities pressing against the confines of their mother's womb. The crescendo of these convulsions built to an unbearable tension, and then the grotesque revelation: eight long, sharp spider legs pierced through the broodmother's distended abdomen, ripping and tearing their way out, as if desperate to escape their fleshy prison. From this macabre birth emerged a new monster, born of brutality, horror and sacrifice.
https://i.imgur.com/sePAdfO.png [https://i.imgur.com/sePAdfO.png]