Chapter 16: Guardian of the Orb

The descent into the ruins was smoother than expected. Cold, damp corridors stretched endlessly ahead, lined with cracked pillars and eroded statues depicting forgotten deities. Strange symbols, barely visible through layers of dust, pulsed faintly whenever Lance passed his hand over them. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, thick with the scent of damp stone and something acrid—like burnt chitin.

"NIGHTFALL STEEL SIGNATURE GROWING STRONGER," the Shadow Rat King whispered in his mind. "TWO LEVELS BELOW THE ORB'S CHAMBER."

"We should be two floors down now," Cassandra said, voice steady as she surveyed the chamber ahead. The ceiling loomed higher here, its surface webbed with massive strands of black silk that gleamed ominously under Brother Thomas's light spell. "The orb should be close."

Lyra, her bow at the ready, stepped forward. "Yeah, but I don't like this. Feels too... quiet."

As if answering her suspicion, a system notification flickered into view before Lance's eyes.

[System Alert - Skill Evolution Available]

You have slain more than 10 Rank D spiders. Choose one skill to evolve to level 5.

1. Arachnid Slayer (Lv.1) - Increases damage against all spider-type creatures by 10%

2. Weaver's Insight (Lv.1) - Detects weak points in silk-based traps

3. Poison Resistance (Lv.1) - Reduces poison effects by 15%

Lance's mind worked quickly. The first option was great for dealing damage, but if there was a guardian beast ahead, poison resistance could be life-saving.

He selected Poison Resistance.

A faint warmth coursed through his veins before fading. His shadow rat's third eye pulsed in approval.

"Something's coming," Marcus muttered, gripping his twin swords tighter.

Emerging from the shadows, its jet-black carapace glinting under the faint blue glow of the ruins, stood a Toxic Knight Spider. It was unlike the lesser spiders they had fought before—its eight legs ended in jagged, venom-coated spikes, and its back was covered in dozens of eerie, glowing red eyes.

[Toxic Knight Spider - Rank B]

Threat Level: High

Abilities:

Venom-Tipped Fangs - Corrodes armor and flesh upon contact

Black Silk Snare - Slows enemy movement and hardens over time

Note: Ancient guardian type, shows signs of deep place corruption

"CAREFUL, MASTER," the Shadow Rat King warned. "ITS VENOM HAS EVOLVED BEYOND NORMAL TOXINS."

The spider lunged before anyone could react. Its legs moved like spears, stabbing down with crushing force. Lyra and Marcus barely dodged in time, rolling to the sides. Brother Thomas wasn't as fast—his foot caught on a loose stone, sending him stumbling directly into the spider's path.

Lance reacted without thinking. He moved with his enhanced agility, gripping the healer's robes and yanking him back just as a venomous leg stabbed down where his chest had been.

Pain flared up his arm.

The spider's leg had slashed across his forearm, leaving a burning wound. Lance's breath caught as his vision blurred for a moment. A system alert flashed in his mind.

[Status Effect: Toxic Paralysis (Low-Grade)]

Movement Speed reduced by 20%

Full-body paralysis in 10 minutes if untreated

Note: Poison Resistance skill reducing effects by 15%

"Jest, your arm—" Lyra started, but he cut her off.

"Forget it! Focus on the spider!" His voice was sharp, urgent. "It's fast, but the eyes on its back are its weak point. Aim for them!"

Marcus readied his blades. "Got it."

Lyra nocked an arrow, aiming high.

Cassandra cursed as the Toxic Knight Spider reared back, its venom dripping from Lance's wound. But Lance barely staggered, the poison's effect significantly reduced by his resistance.

[Status Effect: Toxic Paralysis (Low-Grade)]

Movement Speed reduced by 20% (Reduced by 35% due to Poison Resistance Lv.5)

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Full-body paralysis in 10 minutes if untreated (Time extended by 35% due to resistance)

Note: Poison Resistance effective even against higher rank toxins

"How are you still standing?" Brother Thomas gasped, his holy symbol glowing as he prepared a healing spell. "That venom should have dropped you instantly!"

"Practice," Lance replied dryly, the mask's grin unchanging. More D-rank spiders skittered from the shadows, drawn by the Knight Spider's presence.

[Monster Detection]

Toxic Knight Spider (B-Rank) x1

Venom Stalkers (D-Rank) x8

Note: Additional D-rank kills may enhance poison resistance

The shadow rat's third eye pulsed. "THEY GUARD SOMETHING, MASTER. THE ORB... AND SOMETHING ELSE."

Lance flexed his injured arm, feeling the dulled burn of the toxin. With his resistance, he had time. Time to fight, time to observe, and time to find what he really came for.

"Cassandra," he called out, shadows beginning to gather around him. "Keep the big one busy. I'll handle its children."

The Venom Stalkers moved like liquid shadow, their smaller forms darting between the pillars. But Lance was faster, his Superior Agility making their movements seem sluggish in comparison.

"Hunt," he commanded, and his shadow rats poured from the darkness.

What followed was a deadly dance. Lance's scythe cut through spider after spider, each kill bringing him closer to strengthening his resistance further. His rats herded the creatures, forcing them into his blade's path.

Meanwhile, Cassandra engaged the Knight Spider, her shield deflecting its massive legs while Marcus looked for openings. Lyra's arrows struck true, but barely penetrated the creature's thick carapace.

[Kill Count Updated]

Venom Stalkers slain: 4

"Brother Thomas!" Cassandra shouted as she blocked another strike. "We need that blessing now!"

The healer raised his holy symbol, but the Knight Spider was faster. It shot a stream of black silk, pinning Thomas to a pillar.

Lance saw his opening. As the massive spider focused on Thomas, he commanded his rats to swarm its legs, creating a distraction. The creature reared back, exposing the cluster of eyes on its back.

"Lyra!" he called out. "The eyes! Now!"

Her arrow flew true, enhanced by Thomas's partial blessing. It struck the central eye cluster, and the Knight Spider screamed—a sound that shook loose stone from the ceiling.

The Knight Spider thrashed in pain, its legs carving chunks from ancient pillars. Black ichor sprayed from its wounded eyes, the toxin so potent it melted stone where it fell.

"MASTER," the shadow rat's third eye blazed. "SHALL I CALL THE KING?"

Lance smiled behind his mask. "Show them why the deep places fear our kind."

The temperature in the chamber plummeted. Shadows writhed and condensed, taking massive form. The Shadow Rat King materialized—far larger than when Lance had first bound it, its fur drinking in all light, purple energy crackling between its teeth.

"YOUR WILL, MASTER?" Its voice echoed through the chamber, making even Cassandra step back.

The Knight Spider sensed the new threat, turning to face this ancient predator. But there was something in its movements now—recognition, and fear.

"THE OLD GUARDIANS REMEMBER US," the Shadow Rat King growled, its form growing larger still. "THEY REMEMBER WHEN WE RULED THESE DEPTHS."

Lance raised his hand, purple energy crackling between his fingers. "Then let's remind it why."

The Shadow Rat King lunged, its massive form moving with impossible speed. The Knight Spider tried to defend, but against this evolved monster, it was outmatched. Shadow-infused teeth tore through enchanted chitin like paper.

The battle between ancient beings shook the chamber. The Shadow Rat King's attacks came from multiple angles—its body seeming to split into pure darkness before reforming, each strike tearing away pieces of the Knight Spider's armor.

"Impossible," Brother Thomas whispered, still half-pinned to the pillar. "That's not just a summoned beast. It's... evolved."

Lance watched with satisfaction as his first conquered monster demonstrated its true power. The Knight Spider tried to snare the Shadow Rat King with its silk, but the webbing passed through shadow-form harmlessly.

"PATHETIC," the Shadow Rat King's voice boomed. "YOU GUARD THESE HALLS, YET YOU'VE FORGOTTEN WHO TRULY RULES THE DEEP."

Its maw opened impossibly wide, purple energy building within its throat. The blast that followed consumed the Knight Spider entirely, leaving nothing but scattered pieces of smoking chitin.

Silence fell over the chamber. Lance's teammates stared at the Shadow Rat King with a mixture of awe and terror. Even Cassandra seemed at a loss for words.

"What..." Lyra finally managed, her bow trembling slightly. "What are you really?"

The Shadow Rat King turned its massive head toward Lance, awaiting instruction. Its third eye pulsed with barely contained power.

"Just an adventurer," Lance replied pleasantly, his mask's grin catching the purple light. "Testing for my rank." He gestured toward a dark passage that had been revealed during the fight. "Shall we continue? I believe our objective lies ahead."

The shadow rat on his shoulder chittered softly. "THE NIGHTFALL STEEL CALLS, MASTER. THROUGH THAT VERY PASSAGE."

The passage opened into a vast circular chamber. At its center, floating in a beam of ancient light, the crystal orb pulsed with a soft blue glow. But Lance's attention was drawn to the darker passage beyond it—where his shadow rat's third eye fixed intently.

"NIGHTFALL STEEL DIRECTLY BELOW," the Shadow Rat King rumbled, its massive form barely fitting in the chamber. "A RICH VEIN."

"There it is," Cassandra said, relief evident in her voice. "Let's grab the orb and—"

"Actually," Lance interrupted smoothly, "I sense something... concerning below. The Shadow Rat King and I should investigate while you secure our objective."

Brother Thomas clutched his holy symbol tighter. After witnessing the Shadow Rat King's power, none of them seemed eager to argue.

"Guild rules say we stay together," Cassandra tried weakly.

Lance turned to her, the mask's purple veins pulsing gently. "Do you really want to see what else lurks in these depths?"

The team exchanged glances. The memory of the Knight Spider's demise was still fresh.

"We'll... wait here," Cassandra decided. "But don't be long."

Lance nodded, already moving toward the darker passage. The Shadow Rat King followed, its bulk somehow flowing through spaces too small for its size.

"THEY FEAR US NOW, MASTER," it observed with satisfaction.

"Good," Lance replied softly. "Fear keeps people from asking too many questions."

The passage descended sharply, opening into a chamber that made Lance's Ring of Summoning pulse with recognition. Here, the walls weren't stone but pure darkness given form. And there, embedded in that darkness like veins in flesh, ran streaks of metal that seemed to drink in what little light reached them.

"Nightfall Steel," Lance breathed. The metal was exactly as Roland described—perfect for crafting weapons that commanded shadow.

"THE DEEP PLACES PRESERVED IT," the Shadow Rat King observed, its massive form prowling the chamber's edges. "WAITING FOR YOUR RETURN."

Lance approached the nearest vein, running his fingers along the cold metal. His ring resonated with it, sending ripples of power through the chamber.

[Material Analysis]

Nightfall Steel Vein

Quality: Exceptional

Properties:

- Shadow Affinity

- Enhanced Durability

- Power Resonance

Note: Sufficient quantity for planned weapons

"How do we extract it?" Lance asked, but even as the words left his mouth, the Shadow Rat King's third eye blazed.

The darkness itself seemed to respond, peeling away from the steel like skin from bone. The metal came free in perfect sheets, each one as large as Lance's arm.

"THE DEEP PLACES REMEMBER HOW TO SERVE," the Shadow Rat King rumbled with satisfaction. "THE STEEL IS YOURS, MASTER."

Lance secured the Nightfall Steel in his shadow storage, the metal seeming to hum in harmony with his Ring of Summoning. As they ascended back to the others, his vision suddenly blurred.

[Status Warning]

Toxic Paralysis progressing

- Movement Speed now reduced by 25%

- Poison spreading despite resistance

Note: B-rank toxin gradually overwhelming Level 5 resistance

"MASTER," his shadow rat's concern rippled through their link. "THE KNIGHT SPIDER'S VENOM WAS STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED."

The team waited where he'd left them, the orb now secured in Cassandra's pack. Their relief at his return quickly turned to concern as he stumbled slightly.

"Jest?" Lyra stepped forward, noticing his unsteady movements. "You don't look—"

"We're leaving," Lance cut her off, his voice steady despite the growing numbness in his limbs. "Now."

Brother Thomas frowned. "But the deeper levels—"

"Can remain unconquered," Lance finished. The mask hid the sweat beading on his forehead. "Some places are meant to stay buried."

The Shadow Rat King melted back into the darkness, but Lance could feel its worried presence through their connection. The ascent seemed longer than the descent, each step requiring more effort as the poison worked deeper into his system.

[Status Update]

Toxic Paralysis advancing

- Extremities growing numb

- Vision periodically blurring

Warning: Medical attention required

They were nearly at the surface when Lance's legs finally betrayed him. He caught himself against a wall, the stone cold against his palm.

"The poison," Brother Thomas realized. "It's still in your system? But after all this time..."

"B-rank toxins," Lance managed, his voice tight, "are quite persistent."

The last hundred feet to the surface was a blur of concerned voices and stumbling steps. Lance maintained just enough consciousness to ensure the Nightfall Steel remained securely hidden in his shadow storage.

As sunlight finally touched them, he heard Cassandra giving orders to fetch guild healers. But the poison's embrace was becoming too strong to resist.

The last thing he saw before darkness took him was his shadow rat's third eye blazing with protective fury, and the distant silhouette of Graybourne's walls.

He had what he came for. The rest... could wait.