Shai had to bite her way into triumph; her decisiveness shining through her unladylike actions. Being a snake, she had to use everything she had. As if that was any different from the girl she was. Shai couldn't even remember.

Even with its formidable eight eyes and eight legs, the spider was caught off guard and powerless against her. Her attack was just too sudden, completely unexpected for the spider. Despite being a ferocious predator that could invoke fear into the hearts of men, it was completely vulnerable and incapable of defending itself when she assaulted its blindspot.

This gave Shai the freedom to execute her plan with precision. As she continued her relentless invasion into the segment between its head and abdomen, the spider's attempts to subdue her ceased, its appendages suspended after a while.

Desperate and disoriented, it crashed into the sidewall and battered its own body in a futile attempt to shake her off. Sadly, it was too late for the giant creature.

Eventually, the spider collapsed onto the ground, succumbing to a pitiful state. Shai's gaze fixated on the dying creature as she came out of the gory crevice, blood and disgusting goo oozing out, staining her little form--which wasn't that little anymore. She distanced herself from it, as relief washed over her.

Shai lamented that she couldn't end the creature's suffering swiftly. Panting heavily, Shai remained fixated on the squirming monstrosity before her. It still gnawed at her. Its screeches pierced the air for an agonisingly long minute until it finally succumbed to its fate.

A soothing energy enveloped Shai, offering comfort after the intense battle.

[You have slain Twisted Weaver Lvl 17).]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 8. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

With the adversary defeated, the only task remaining was to loot the spoils. Shai wasted no time in stowing away the huge creature, which probably filled the space for another creature of this size. Her gaze scanned the surrounding area, vigilant for any potential threats.

Although she emerged victorious against the Spider, the thought of encountering another one of those colossal monstrosities filled her with apprehension. While she did discover their vulnerable blind spot--their reverse scale--it didn't make attacking that spot any easier.

I need to hunt something a few levels weaker, Shai decided, as she crept away from there. She probably wouldn't be able to store any more huge creatures like this... but the level-ups were always welcome.

So Shai ventured deeper into the depths of the dungeon, hoping to encounter prey that posed less of a challenge. Fortunately, finding prey was not difficult in a dungeon swarming with monstrous creatures like spiders.

It seemed whatever dwelled in this dungeon had to have eight legs at the very least. The spiders barely made the cut, but the ones Shai discovered next were evidently the prodigal sons of the dungeon, their appendage numbers marking over a couple of dozen.

Hey, Grandpa, how's it fair that I don't have any legs, and these mindless bugs had dozens of them?

Centipedes, there were eight of them, lurked in the darkness; her [Predatory Instinct] told her she could take them on. They weren't aware Shai could see them, though she still chose to creep away when they chased after her.

They have the number, what can a little snake do against such creatures?

The centipede’s trunk was glossy brown and inflated with a solid carapace, with dozens of legs working together to chase after her. Shai was faster than before, her Physique reaching closer to 20 points. Even the augmented strength [Empower] provided overshadowed any concerns she might have about a prolonged battle.

But first, she needed to understand their strength and weakness.

Their movement lacked coordination as they raced against each other, driven by a voracious desire to be the first to sink their teeth into the delicious-looking little snake.

Preparing for the impending battle, Shai enveloped her white scales with primal essence, causing them to emit a faint glow. The [Arcane Shot] was ready at command. All she needed to do was aim for the right spot. Save for the centipedes' body segments, Shai deemed it would take too much out of her to damage these centipedes.

Crawling and coiling herself to build momentum, Shai whipped her tail against the side of the rim, launching her narrow body into the air. Suspended in mid-air, her slit eyes emanated a dangerous glint as she shot the [Arcane Shot]. It hissed through the air and drilled through the body segment of the closest centipede, rendering it powerless.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The battle barely started. Shai twisted her form in mid-air, charging headfirst toward another centipede. With a single powerful lunge, she pierced through its body segment, claiming its life more efficiently than the previous encounter.

[You have slain a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 7.]

[You have slain a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 9.]

As Shai emerged from the giant centipede above her, two more of its companions lunged at her, attempting to take a bite. Her mind raced, and she swiftly twisted, manoeuvring her body underneath the foe closest to her. It aimed to sink its fangs into her lower body, but it was Shai who got the taste of the foul creature first.

Suppressing her repulsion, she sank her teeth into the creature's vulnerable underside, causing its body to convulse.

Shai came out unscathed, but her eyes widened at the sheer depravity of the scene before her. Astonishment and disbelief filled her as she realised that the other centipede, which had come to attack her alongside its companion, was actually nibbling its teeth on its fallen companion.

Did it think its friend got me and excluded it from having me? She came up with a theory. Still, it seemed too much of a payback to eat one of their kind.

Are these creatures cannibalistic?

This is unforgivable! Shai mocked inwardly and charged at the foe as if she were any different. Well, Shai merely began to bear the thought of cannibalism... it was not a crime until she acted on those thoughts--this was how law enforcement works.

She unleashed an [Arcane Shot], which hissed its way into the mouth of the centipede that was busy devouring its own kind.

[You have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 8.]

I know we haven’t known for long, Shai told the other half-eaten centipede. But I avenged you. Now rest in peace. I’ll come back to collect the price later.

Five more centipedes remained, and their presence still posed a threat. But they couldn't compare to a single Level 17 Weaver. Unlike the spiders with their eight strong, sharp legs, armed with sticky webs, centipedes were just a little quicker in comparison.

Though they possessed solid carapaces, the vulnerability of their body segments rendered their sturdy exteriors irrelevant. At least to a cunning smart-ass like Shai, not that she had an ass. Not anymore.

Most of the centipede was at a higher level than Shai, yet they barely had any leverage on her. It was just the power of intelligence and skills.

Shai crawled below one of the centipedes again, twisting and turning so that it wouldn’t bite her tail. The same scenario repeated itself, with the attacking centipedes inadvertently turning against their fellow creatures.

The spider may be deranged, but there seems to be no salvation for these centipedes, Shai thought.

Something was gravely amiss in this dungeon. No, not just the dungeon, but the whole place. These were simply not magical creatures; they had become monstrous beings, mutated and tainted by their greed and hunger. Reflecting on her encounters outside the cavern, Shai realised that even the beetle, python, and hamster had exhibited a savage nature beyond what was natural.

Maybe she too was acting a little overboard of her viciousness... No, I'm different... Right Grandpa?

Hmm, is he even real? Shai ignored the irrelevant thought, but her mind still tilted that way.

If she were to follow the same path, how long could she keep up fighting off the pervertedness? Shai couldn't help but consider, as she killed her next opponent. Shai had been in constant hunger since she hatched. It clearly wasn't natural anymore.

Perhaps all of these anomalies were interconnected. Shai recalled the quest about unfolding the mystery of the land. She had ignored it so far, but it didn't feel irrelevant to her livelihood anymore.

This dungeon was probably the epicentre of it all. She decided to delve further into it after she dealt with this group of cannibalistic creatures.

it turned out, dispatching them was surprisingly easy. Once they became engrossed in their self-consuming frenzy, they completely forgot about her presence. Shai swiftly ended their wretched lives, one after another, until only the final centipede remained.

Only when its companions were dead, did it come out of the frenzy and poised to sink its fangs into her.

How foolish of it to think that it could eat her when seven other of them failed in their attempt. Shai confined its advance with [Force Shield] and then ended its miserable life shooting a couple of [Arcane Shots]

. . .

[You have killed a Twisted Chilopod Lvl 13.]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 9. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

Level up, lessgoooo!

Shai reached out to the nearest lifeless centipede and tried to store it. It disappeared into mist in a matter of a few seconds. Sadly, she couldn't store the next corpse. Her inventory was full.

But then again, these creatures were deranged. It seemed that the corruption had affected the centipedes to such an extent that their flesh was no longer consumable. Was this contagious? Her [Predatory Instinct] couldn't tell.

A sudden alarm blared in her mind as Shai swiftly recoiled, spinning her tail against the ground. In the next moment, a slimy cobweb entangled in her tail, revealing an enormous spider lurking on the walls.

Shai hadn't seen it coming before the attack at all. Even her Instinct failed to warn her in time.

Judging by its monstrous appearance—which paled the spider she killed before—it should be a rank above. Over Level 25. It was nearly twice the size of the one she had hunted before.

I hate spiders! Shai groaned.