[Chapter 46] Light – Killing Spiders

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Light shook his head. The difficulty really ramps up. “How exactly were you planning on defeating the Red Mantis?” He asked.

Maintaining her magic, Shine rolled her eyes, “While you might’ve forgotten, I possesses a Sublime Vagary. It would’ve been a tough fight, but you don’t become immortal by playing it safe.” Right, ‘Radiant Masquerade’.

“I’m done making magazines.” Hope announced.

“Then that’s enough.” Soul winced, getting up. “Thanks.”

“I haven’t healed your right shoulder and arm.” Free protested.

“You can finish later when Hope forms the guns.” Soul said. “So what’s ahead?”

“Limping Carcases.” Shine said. “They’re ten feet long badgers whose backs are covered with mauve mushrooms. The spores are lethal, but their toxicity fades quickly. As long as you stay at a good distance, you’re safe. Foresight is a must…”

Everyone turned to Wise, who nodded, “We can go.”

Their brother expertly guided them down winding passageways. Occasionally, he’d have them pause or double back. Only Shine was apprehensive. She hasn’t learned to trust him.

“Last cave system!” Hope cheered quietly once passed the doorway. “What’s next?”

“A thousand vorten ravagers.” Shine replied softly. “They’re rat-shaped things the size of a horse, with enormous mouths. They once lead a nomadic lifestyle, roaming in herds consuming everything. This attracted Calin’s attention, and he used them as the basis for his devourers. Vorten Ravagers were among the first casualties when he eventually let those loose. Calin’s chimeras are responsible for a fifth of the species in Lost World.”

“How’d you get past?” Soul asked.

“As we did for the sea serpents, only Kaito acted as bait.” Shine explained. “The ravagers sleep on a mound in a long, quarter-mile-wide cavern. As soon as prey appears, they rush after without regards for anything.”

“Then it’s my turn.” Light announced eagerly.

“Wait!” Shine stopped him. “Kaito ran into trouble. We didn’t know how high they could jump, and he nearly didn’t make it. Don’t be reckless.”

They sneaked through dim passageways under the light of glowing moss until they reaching a large space. The exit was visible past a legion of dark motionless forms. Shine motioned them back, “While ravagers are lightning fast on flat surfaces, they’re slower on walls. Kaito lead them away by running on the ceiling. It worked, but it got dicey when they started leaping… Are you sure you want to try?”

“Yes.” Light confirmed confidently. “Give me a second.”

He moved aside to some moss and created a sand shell around himself. Next he covered himself with a layer of mineral particles, adjusting the color until it blended in with the rock. Caution doesn’t hurt.

Light drew ‘Dusk’, the twisted dagger he’d recovered from Agata. Its Illusory Grace was ‘Ghostly Wisp’, gifting him stealth matching an assassin’s.

He rolled out and scurried up a wall. Glancing back, the others were examining the sand left behind. If there was more light, they might’ve caught a glimpse of me. He made his way above the thousand resting ravagers, Ghostly Wisp suppressing what little sound he made.

Let’s get their attention, Light smiled. Drawing Mockery, he summoned a giant sandstone boulder and sheathed Dusk as his concealment ended. It operates under the same restriction as the assassins. Seven ravagers were crushed. The rest scattered, noticed him, and shrieked. Loud.

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Light ran at top speed, the horde scrabbling behind. Some jumped to the ceiling, gripping with claws, and chased after. Others leapt straight at him.

Dodging over-sized jaws, Light drew ‘Clarity’, his silver Ninjato with a transparent handle. This ‘air’ catalyst rivaled Mockery in quality. However, its true value lied in its Illusory Grace, ‘Transcendence’. Not only did it expand his spiritual sense, it provided complete spacial awareness. I feel the shape everything. Sight was no longer necessary.

He’d wielded Clarity to flip the armored bats with wind gusts. He did the same now. Whenever a ravager pounced, he immediately blew it off-course. A small early intervention caused them to sail by harmlessly. It was child’s play. The problem are the ones on the walls. He had to bypass them on the return.

Once far enough, Light let a leaper bite him. As the teeth sunk into his arm, he dropped a miniature grenade which Hope had graciously provided. It sucks being broke. Although egg-sized, they were filled with RSF.

Light escaped the explosion with a substitution, erasing his injury, and hid in a ceiling alcove. While the cave shook, he drew Mockery and covered himself in sand.

Angry squeals echoed. Good, they lost me. Listening carefully, he heard sniffing among the cacophony. Nearby ravagers were moving closer. Smell did in Mockery’s original owner.

Before he was discovered, Dusk cloaked him again. The condition for Ghostly Wisp, ‘escape sight for eleven seconds’, had been met. He let himself fall. Above, ten ravagers peered around in confusion. Better luck next time, he sneered.

Reaching out with telekinesis, he gripped the stone ceiling and swung in a wide arc, landing a hundred feet away. Ghostly Wisp masked everything, including scent. It might have an effect on foresight too. It was perfect. Light raced to the exit. With the ruckus they’re making, there’s no risk.

Overall, he was pleased. Although he still envied Diamonds Edge ——vivisecting that scarab was increadible——, Agata’s work suited him better. Subterfuge and versatility are a ninja’s tools.

He frowned. In fact, they’re almost too ideal. He briefly wondered how the HEAVENLY DAO had influenced his selection. Let’s just call it fate.

The others were on a boulder, conversing leisurely. Wise must have reassured them. Light took in the lay of the land. It’s bigger. He’d suspected the game reserves were growing, but this proved it. In some directions, the cavern walls were too distant to make out. The climate also varied greatly. To the Left, the rocky grasslands gave way to a snowy expanse engulfed in a blizzard. To the right, it descended into a smoggy, lava-filled landscape. However, most noticeable is… A sprawling tropical jungle spread out in front, mist overflowing from the trees.

“That looks foreboding.” Light joined the others.

“It’s the deadliest region by far.” Shine stated. “Thankfully, we’re headed that way.” She pointed between the jungle and volcanic area. “See the orange cliff? There.”

“What hazards should we expect?” Soul asked.

“Not many.” Shine said. “The grasslands are a relative safe zone. We just need to avoid any dragonic bears and keep an eye out for elephant hawks.”

“What’s that last one?” Free asked.

“Very large birds.” Shine explained. “Named after their favorite prey.”

The journey proceeded smoothly. When they drew close, Hope yelled, “Spiders!”

Ahead, three arachnids were dragging something wrapped in web, pulling it into an opening. That wasn’t human.

“I don’t remember seeing predators hunting each other…” Free commented.

“It happens, but it’s rare.” Shine replied. “The HEAVENLY DOA usually keeps them satiated until there’s an adventurer. Maybe they’re acting out of instinct rather than hunger.”

“Or maybe they’re new additions which aren’t properly integrated.” Rose deduced. Sounds right.

“I’m shaping the submachine guns.” Hope declared. While she worked, Free mended Soul’s remaining wounds.

“How long does your Sublime Vagary last?” Rose asked.

Shine Hesitated, “Five minutes and twenty seconds, the length of the song that inspired it. I can use it once every ‘concert’, which is to say every three hours.”

Light was impressed. Revealing those details is a sign of trust.

“Here,” Hope threw a weapon to Shine. “Familiarize yourself. You’ll be using nine of them.”

The idol expertly loaded a magazine and took aim. “You’ve handled them before?” Light asked, picking up his own.

“I participated in the extermination of a swarm of locust.” She said. “We used full machine guns then. Will these be enough?”

“Yep.” Hope replied. “Adventurer’s don’t use magic bullets, right? Ours are weight-enhanced. That should make up the difference.”

Shine paled, “You mean these are all enchanted? That’s… How much time——”

“Because I’d rather not be eaten, I brought my best.” Hope cut her off. “That said, they should be super effective, so try to conserve ammunition.”

Once prepared, they made their way to the entrance. “Any final advice?” Soul asked Wise.

“We go in guns blazing. I’ll give directions to ensure we aren’t surrounded. Also…” His eyes glazed over. “There’s a big one at the bottom. We definitively want to reach that before Shine’s time runs out.”

“Ready?” Shine donned her mask and hat. When they nodded, she shouted, “Radiant——”