The spider-like creature let out a low growl. Its voice echoed through the cave chamber, like a rumble from the bowels of the earth. The countless eyes on its body moved asynchronously, observing Alvaric from every direction. Hearing Alvaric’s previous words only enraged it further.
"You think you’re stronger than me, huh? Don’t get cocky, demi-human!" the giant spider roared.
Alvaric didn’t answer. He simply stared straight ahead, his eyes sharp. There was no fire or excitement in his gaze. Cold. In one hand, Vapper’s Dagger trembled—its poison dripping to the ground. In the other, the Crimson Sword Demon was unsheathed, radiating a red aura.
Alvaric had no intention of wasting any more time. He felt he had to unleash his full power without a shred of mercy.
"Come at me," Alvaric challenged.
The creature lunged at terrifying speed, its legs slicing through the air. The cave walls trembled. Its attacks came from all directions—above, from the sides, even from below. A vortex of death. Its sharp legs aimed directly at Alvaric.
Alvaric dodged them all, though not perfectly. One claw slashed his abdomen, spraying blood into the air. His body was thrown against the cave wall. The ground shook.
The spider grinned wide. "What happened to your arrogant words now?" it mocked.
The giant spider leaped and landed above Alvaric. Without mercy, it stabbed his body repeatedly. Alvaric’s blood flowed heavily onto the cave floor.
"A demi-human will always be a demi-human," the creature chuckled. "Fragile, weak, and bloody. You’re no match for a being like me who has already evolved once."
The giant spider laughed as if it had already won the fight. It tore Alvaric’s flesh and flung the pieces around the cave.
"Die, you stupid demi-human!" it shouted again and again.
On the other side of the cave, Tamae struggled to stand, her body full of wounds. She had almost reached her limit. Her eyes squinted, watching Alvaric. But what she saw... was not a man who was losing. Alvaric began to smile, even as his body was being ripped apart.
"He’s the real monster," Tamae whispered.
"Die already!" the spider roared again.
It aimed for Alvaric’s head, but something unexpected happened. Its sharp legs were stopped—blocked by Alvaric.
"Are you done yet?" Alvaric shot back. Check latest chapters at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁
He slowly stood. Blood dripped from his body, soaking into the ground. Then, it began to evaporate—floating in the air. The blood hovered and spun, forming sharp weapons in a circular formation around Alvaric.
Their gazes met. At that moment, the spider jumped back. Its instincts had moved it once again.
"You’re wrong about two things," Alvaric whispered. "First, I’m not a demi-human... and second, I won’t lose to a weak creature like you."
The spider wanted to attack again, but at that moment, dozens of floating blood weapons surrounded it. The creature froze. It could feel the strange magical energy radiating from those blood weapons.
The spider looked at Alvaric. "What are you?"
"I already told you. A creature about to die doesn’t deserve to know anything."
With a flick of his finger, the blades of blood shot out in all directions. They spun in erratic patterns, confusing the creature. Then, with a downward motion of Alvaric’s finger, all the blades moved simultaneously—piercing toward the spider.
Some were blocked, but... there were too many. Dozens impaled the spider’s body. Blood began to drip.
Its wounds started to regenerate. "You think you’re the only one who can heal? I can regenerate too."
Alvaric stepped forward. He raised the sword in his right hand. In an instant, the air shifted. The ceiling of the cave turned crimson. A massive moon appeared above, casting a bright—but blood-red—light throughout the chamber.
"What the hell is he doing now?" the spider groaned.
A second later, the spider felt something change in its body. It didn’t understand what was happening, but it felt... fragile. Weaker than before. Strange.
"What... what’s happening?"
Alvaric didn’t give it time to think. He dashed forward at insane speed. The giant spider tried to block Alvaric’s strike. It succeeded—then launched a counterattack. Its leg pierced through Alvaric’s body—or so it thought.
What it had stabbed was Alvaric’s shadow from a second ago. "Too slow."
Vapper’s Dagger sank into the spider’s front right leg. The poison spread immediately. It was followed by a slash from the Crimson Sword Demon. In a single spin, the blade carved through the air and tore through the spider’s body in a perfect arc.
Blood spilled in torrents. The spider collapsed. But Alvaric wasn’t done. He kicked the spider’s chest—
The monster was hurled across the cave and slammed into the wall. The spider coughed blood. It was badly wounded—something it had never experienced before.
The spider went berserk. It slammed the ground and the walls, nearly causing a cave-in. It rose and launched another counterattack. But Alvaric danced through the barrage. The giant spider looked like it was being toyed with.
"STOP MOVING!" the spider shouted, now in panic.
The surrounding blood had formed into thousands of needles.
The blood needles impaled the spider from every direction. It screamed—a cry so loud it shook the cave ceiling. Its vision began to blur. At the same time, several of its eyes were pierced by Alvaric’s guided blood needles.
The giant spider suffered countless wounds. It was on the brink of death. Yet it still wouldn’t die. It forced itself up again, trying to stab Alvaric with its front leg.
Alvaric caught the strike—with his bare hand. His eyes were cold, unblinking. His body covered in blood, yet he stood tall. Like a monster.
"Your time is up," he whispered.
The final slash came. With one swift, clean motion, Alvaric swung the Crimson Sword Demon upward—slicing the spider in half. In its final moment, the spider looked at Alvaric with sorrow in its many eyes.
"Ah, I couldn’t avenge my little brother. Forgive me..." those were its last words.
Blood sprayed into the air. The spider fell, split cleanly in two. Its eyes went dark all at once. The creature... was dead.
Alvaric slowly turned around, his steps steady. The red moon above began to fade. The air returned to normal. He walked toward Tamae, who was standing, leaning against the wall.
Tamae stared at Alvaric, panting.
"...You... are incredible..."
"You’re an idiot," Alvaric muttered.