Some time passes since my empowerment and stabilization and we move out. With determination to fulfill our task, we pass the border and cross the mountains 50 kilometers outside of Yong Ning area. Our journey was not without trouble, as we've encountered packs of wolves and bandit camps across the land.
Reaching our destination, Lei and I approach the entrance of the cave specified in our mission, a chill running down our spines. As the cave looms before us, it's clear that we're not alone. Three of the smaller arachnids, the ones with jade eyes and sharp claws, are gathered at the entrance. Their grotesque forms are illuminated by the pale light filtering in from outside. My eyes widen as I realize what they're doing. The arachnids are huddled around what appears to be a homeless person, their victim, cocooned in sticky webs. Horror and anger well up inside me at the sight of the poor soul caught in this nightmare.
Lei's expression darkens as well. "This is worse than we thought, Xu," she says quietly, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "We can't let these creatures continue their reign of terror."
I nod in agreement, my resolve hardening. "Agreed. We're here to put an end to this. But we need to be cautious. These arachnids may be small, but they're dangerous in numbers."
We exchange a knowing look, silently communicating our plan. Lei readies her Vajra Palm, enveloping her palms with a soft golden light, while I focus on enveloping my body with lightning, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
With a shared nod, we step forward, entering the cave and alerting the arachnids to our presence. The creatures turn towards us, their multiple eyes fixated on our intruding figures. It's clear that they view us as a threat.
As the arachnids advance with menacing hisses, I can't help but wonder how many more of these creatures lurk deeper within this cave, and what other horrors we might encounter in this arachnid-infested lair.
The battle in the cave erupts like a storm. Lei takes the lead, her palms glowing brightly as she unleashes her Vajra Palm Shockwave upon the closest arachnid. Golden shockwaves streak through the air, aiming for the creature's head. Despite its grotesque appearance, the creature is surprisingly agile. It ducks under the shockwave, avoiding the devastating attack with a serpentine grace. The other two arachnids swiftly join the fray, flanking Lei with coordinated precision.
They move as a unit, their movements synchronized like a deadly dance. The arachnids are quick and cunning, using their sharp claws to swipe at Lei with alarming accuracy.
Lei, though skilled, is forced to backpedal, narrowly avoiding the lethal strikes. The creatures' teamwork is uncanny, and their strategy appears to be to isolate and overwhelm her.
I seize the opportunity, my lightning cultivation enhancing my speed. I dash toward one of the arachnids, unleashing a barrage of lightning-charged punches. My fists crackle with electricity as they connect with the creature's exoskeleton. It screeches in agony, its jade eyes widening in pain.
However, my attacks, while effective, don't go unnoticed by the other arachnids. They break away from Lei and converge onto me, determined to protect their injured comrade. Their teamwork is relentless, as they coordinate their movements to shield their wounded companion.
As Lei and I exchange a quick, determined glance, we silently agree on a new strategy. We need to disrupt the arachnids' coordination, separate them, and exploit their vulnerabilities. With renewed determination, I force the lightning surrounding my body to unite on the skin of my palms, preparing a lightning discharge. The spiders reaching close combat range, I release the energy stored between my palms, zapping the trio and leaving them stunned and prepared for Lei to release a powerful shockwave that leaves only their corpses behind.
With the arachnids at the cave entrance vanquished, Lei and I share a quick, triumphant nod before we decide to press forward into the depths of the cave. We're met with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional skittering of legs in the darkness.
The deeper we venture into the cave, the more our surroundings grow more ominous. The cave's walls seem to close in around us, and the air becomes heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. It's a stark contrast to the bright sunlight outside.
Soon, we encounter a nightmarish sight. In a large chamber within the cave, we find ourselves facing a horde of monstrous digger spiders. There are twenty of the smaller, green arachnids, each with its distinctive jade eyes and sharp claws. But what truly captures our attention is the towering figure at the center of the horde.
It's a massive arachnid, easily three times the size of the others, and its red eyes gleam with a malevolent intelligence. This one appears to be a type of leader to the rest, a creature of enhanced size and strength, undoubtedly commanding the smaller arachnids.
The leader's presence is unsettling, and we can sense the danger it poses. Lei and I exchange a wordless understanding; we must be cautious and coordinated in our approach. We ready our weapons for the impending battle.
She brandishes her staff, her grip steady and resolute, while I retrieve my trusty spear. It's a weapon that compensates for my lack of range with my sword and fists, as well as for my lack of area-of-effect skills.
With a shared, wordless signal, we launch our attack simultaneously. "Now!" we scream in unison, charging forward with our weapons in hand. The smaller arachnids are our primary target, and we strike with precision, cutting them down swiftly. This is no longer a test of their strength, as we've already assessed that at the entrance of the cave.
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During combat, Lei's staff whips through the air, creating a protective barrier of golden energy that deflects the attacks of the arachnids. Her strikes are powerful and precise, incapacitating the smaller creatures efficiently.
However, our attention is abruptly drawn to the massive leader, with a swift and unexpected attack, it lunges at me, its front legs slashing through the air with incredible force. I manage to block some of the strikes with my spear, but the creature's power is overwhelming. Simultaneously, it spits a viscous, sticky substance that coats my body, immobilizing me.
I struggle to break free, but the threads hold me in a vice-like grip. The red-eyed monster, seemingly much more intelligent than the rest, hurls me with its powerful legs into the depths of the cave.
With crash into the cave floor, the impact sends shockwaves of pain through my body. As I try to regain my bearings, I realize that I've been thrown past a horde of what seems like hundreds more digger arachnids. They are all heading directly toward Lei, who stands her ground, her staff at the ready.
The leader, with a triumphant screech, jumps after me, seemingly to alert the rest of its kind. I find myself quickly surrounded by ten of the massive creatures, their red eyes gleaming with hunger and aggression.
Desperation courses through me as I struggle to break free from the sticky threads that bind me. With the horde closing in and Lei facing her own peril, I muster all the strength I can and focus my lightning cultivation into a final, desperate gambit. I release a torrent of lightning into the cave, creating an electrifying area-of-effect attack. The electricity courses through the massive spiders, their bodies convulsing and spasming as the deadly energy surges through them. One by one, they fall, their lifeless forms twitching on the cave floor.
However, the price of my desperate attack becomes evident as the lightning takes its toll on my own body. The energy expenditure leaves me paralyzed and unable to move, my limbs tingling with numbness. I can only watch helplessly as the leader approaches, its red eyes filled with fury and a hunger that no amount of lightning can quell. Seconds later, after judging that I am indeed unable to move, it envelops me tightly with a stronger web and drags me into the depths of the cave, all the while my body goes numb from the pain cause by my own attack...
I wake up to the sound of flowing water and the unsettling, skittering noise of spider legs. My surroundings come into focus, revealing that I'm inside what appears to be a water cave. It seems the cave led to the backdoor entrance of a waterfall, explaining the sound of flowing water.
The grotesque creature that had dragged me away from the battlefield is here, its hissing and dizziness-inducing red eyes fixed on me. It waits with an eerie sort of patience...
Then, unexpectedly, a woman's voice resonates within the cave. "Dangly, behave..." she says with an air of authority, "...let our guest down. I'd like to have a word with him."
The spider creature, which I now know as "Dangly," obeys, releasing me from the sticky threads that had bound me. I struggle to sit up, still reeling from the effects of my lightning attack combined with the shock from hitting the ground.
I struggle to sit up, still reeling from the effects of my lightning attack combined with the shock from hitting the ground [https://img.wattpad.com/a43162efb5acc3ea41344c265c8a561bad610039/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f417449495a4b5263496141576b673d3d2d313436323232383137312e313765326166373331623562383162653138333039363536393332392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As I take in my surroundings, my eyes fall upon a woman dressed in strange red clothing adorned with silky webs. A vibrant red flower is perched atop her head. Despite the peculiar attire, she exudes a captivating beauty that makes her seem no older than twenty years. However, there's something about her aura that feels strangely familiar, it's as if I've encountered a long-lost comrade of sorts.
The black-haired beauty approaches, her gaze locking with mine. "Greetings," she says, her voice carrying a regal tone. "My name is Yuiren. I am the last descendant of the Jorōgumo."
My eyes widen in recognition as I recall tales of the Jorōgumo—legendary spider spirits from folklore [https://img.wattpad.com/51d3b3e5d6ed85e92e76a46433b1180a69a66e50/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4f554f7252614e2d6c66774b4e513d3d2d313436323232383137312e313765326166616337653432646430623330383831333030373331322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
My eyes widen in recognition as I recall tales of the Jorōgumo—legendary spider spirits from folklore. They were known for their enchanting beauty and cunning ways, often luring unsuspecting victims into their webs.
"X- Xu" I reply in shock.
She continues, "I am the Grand Elder and current acting leader of the Long Zhou sect, the guardian of this cave. The people who have perished at the hands of the spiders here were not innocent. They were bandits and criminals who posed a threat to the peace of this region. It is our duty to protect our territory."
Yuiren's weird black-brown mixed eyes hold a wisdom beyond her initial apparent age. She has a presence that commands respect, and her explanation begins to make sense.
"We apologize for intruding," I say, addressing both Yuiren and Lei, who has now joined us in the water cave, guided by the spider known as Dangly. "We were sent here on a mission to exterminate what we believed to be a threat. We did not have all the facts. Can you help us understand more about this territory and your sect, Grand Elder Yuiren?"
Yuiren nods graciously, her gaze softening slightly. "Of course, I can provide you with the information you seek. It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Let us talk, and I shall answer your questions." But first, she says, her face changing drastically to that of confusion, "Why do I feel like we've met before? It's as if I'm compelled to get close to you by fate. Very peculiar...". Her words confirm my earlier feelings of familiarity between us.
I exchange a puzzled glance with Lei, uncertain of how to respond to Yuiren's strange remark. It's as if there's a mysterious connection between us that neither of us can explain.
"I- I feel the same..." I respond, my voice filled with hesitation. The cave falls silent, leaving both Lei and our new spirit friend in a state of even more confusion.
After a moment, Yuiren breaks the silence. "There's a way we can verify this inexplicable connection," she says, her voice carrying a note of curiosity. "Would you be willing to undergo a spiritual test, Xu? It may shed light on the nature of our bond."
I consider her proposal carefully. This situation is already riddled with mysteries, and if there's a chance to uncover the truth, I should take it. "I'm willing to take the test," I reply, my curiosity piqued.
Yuiren nods, her eyes gleaming with anticipation and a very distinct curiosity. "Very well. Prepare yourself, Xu. The test will reveal what fate has bound us together."