Since Fang Chang arrived in the Douluo Continent, more than a month had passed, but this was the first time he had encountered a female spider-type soul beast of suitable size.
The feeling was strange—like a man in his thirties, stranded alone on a deserted island for months, suddenly waking up to find himself in a Hawaiian nude beach.
It was... peculiar and indescribable.
However... despite understanding the situation, why was this ten-thousand-year-old Abyss Demon Spider opening her mouth so wide?
Fang Chang hesitated mid-air, then spat out a venomous web toward her from above.
The venomous web reached the spider first, but she caught it with her mouth and sucked it up as if enjoying noodles.
Using this chance, Fang Chang tapped her head with one of his spider legs and quickly leaped to the side.
But before he could celebrate, the Abyss Demon Spider turned her gaze back to him, her bloodthirsty eyes now mixed with a peculiar... expression.
Chewing on his venomous web, she began walking toward him with no signs of being affected by its toxicity. If anything, her interest in him only seemed to intensify.
"Gulp." Fang Chang swallowed hard, suddenly recalling a chilling fact from his past life:
Some species of female spiders would eat their mates after mating, using them as sustenance for reproduction.
Among these, the more extreme species would go further—they feared their mates might escape post-mating, so they'd eat part of their partner's body first, leaving them alive but immobilized. After mating, they'd finish off the rest.
And the most extreme ones? They'd devour all eight legs of their chosen mate, leaving them completely helpless but alive. They'd then drag them back to their nest for "storage."
This gruesome situation would persist until the male spider died naturally—or the female spider found a better mate. In that case, she'd eat the current one and move on to the next.
Fang Chang's scalp tingled at the thought, and he dared not imagine further.
The Abyss Demon Spider continued closing the distance, her expression growing fiercer, drool dripping from her mouth.
In a flash, her eight legs moved, and she lunged toward Fang Chang, her jaws snapping at one of his spider legs!
Wait... biting my leg? Fang Chang panicked even more.
He desperately pulled his leg back, narrowly avoiding her bite.
But she didn't stop. She lunged again, this time targeting another leg—one that had been exposed due to his previous evasive maneuver.
"Crunch!"
Pain shot through Fang Chang as one of his spider legs was bitten clean off by the Abyss Demon Spider, who carried it triumphantly in her jaws.
Instinctively, Fang Chang used his "Leap" skill to retreat, creating distance between himself and the spider.
The leg didn't last long in her mouth—it was stripped clean in moments, even the hard exoskeleton devoured.
Now down a leg and shaken by the encounter, Fang Chang quickly pushed aside his earlier thoughts and entered full combat mode.
Species: Abyss Demon Spider (Devourable)
Soul Power: 10,000 years
HP: 3300/3300
Strength: 660
Attack: 570
Defense: 652
Speed: 666
The Abyss Demon Spider's stats appeared in his vision.
Though formidable, she wasn't unbeatable. Fang Chang assessed that her attributes weren't much higher than those of the Giant Strength Ape he'd faced before. If he fought seriously, he could defeat her.
Just as he resolved to strike, the spider let out a sharp "hiss" and spat out a web from her mouth with no warning.
Fang Chang hesitated for a moment, as if trying to decipher her intent. Was she taunting him? Flirting?
Regardless, the web had already reached him, hardening upon contact with the air and forming an iron-like cage—a "Web Prison"—that locked him firmly in place.
The spider swaggered closer, her gaze predatory, as if looking at prey that had walked willingly into her trap.
No matter how Fang Chang struggled, the web cage was far tougher than he expected. He couldn't break free.
The Abyss Demon Spider drew nearer, her jaws opening wide again, this time aiming for another leg.
Panicked, Fang Chang activated multiple skills simultaneously: "Fire Armor," "Dragon's Blood (Lv.1)," "Blade Armor." Flames erupted around him, and the web prison, which had seemed indestructible moments ago, quickly began to burn away.
The spider recoiled instinctively, retreating her head from the sudden heat. She feared fire!
Fang Chang was elated—of course, spider-type soul beasts were naturally weak to fire! He was the exception to this rule.
Armed with this knowledge, his confidence soared. Earlier, he had only a 50% chance of defeating her. Now, it felt closer to 80%, maybe even 90%.
With flames licking his body, Fang Chang advanced. This time, it was the spider's turn to retreat.
Her gaze was conflicted—hesitant, uncertain whether to continue with her "grand plan."
Fang Chang gave her no chance to decide. He leapt onto her back, driving his remaining seven legs into her body. Paralytic venom began to seep in.
The Abyss Demon Spider thrashed wildly, her screams filled with pain as the flames burned her, while the venom gradually took effect.
Her struggles weakened over time, until she lay limp on the ground, her legs twitching faintly.
Fang Chang looked at the spider who had tried to eat him earlier. Should he eat her instead? It felt like a waste not to...
Truth be told, from a spider's aesthetic perspective, this ten-thousand-year-old Abyss Demon Spider wasn't exactly ugly.
Three hours later...
Stretching his tired body, Fang Chang glanced at the subdued spider, contemplating whether to spare her.
But when his eyes met her resentful glare, filled with venomous hatred, he sighed. Might as well eat her.
He approached, opening his mouth wide, only to stop himself at the last moment.
After all... earlier...
Sigh. Forget it. Let's leave her alive.
Of course, sparing her didn't mean letting her off entirely. She had bitten off one of his legs—he had to settle that score.
Raising his head, he targeted the fleshiest, most sensitive spot between her thorax and abdomen. With a decisive bite, he tore off a chunk of her flesh.
Finally, a taste of ten-thousand-year soul beast meat!
Tears streamed down Fang Chang's face as he savored the moment. It had been worth it.