章 20: Death Spiders
Death Spiders were a formidable and deadly creature, known for their ability to conceal themselves in the shadows. Their upper half appeared as a beautiful human, with a sleek and slender body, but their elongated fingers and pointed ears betrayed their almost human appearance.
The most striking aspect of these creatures was their lower body, which was that of a large spider, complete with venomous fangs and spinnerets capable of spinning webs of deadly poison. They were like a failed experiment of a mad wizard.
Individually, Death Spiders were relatively weak in direct combat. To compensate for this, they had developed a strategy of laying traps for their enemies and working together in groups of five to ten. When they successfully set a trap, they were able to take down even a group of Second and Third Stage Warriors.
Besides the dimming numbers of Torch Trees, the presence of Death Spiders was a clear indication that they had entered the Inner Layer of the Frozen Forest. These creatures typically created their traps near the entrance of the Forest to hunt unprepared and unsuspecting preys that accidentally ventured into this dangerous parts.
"Death Spiders!" - Gedhe's gruff voice echoed through the forest as the entire expedition team quickly began to form their defense, as Gedhe rapidly backed away and reinforced the barrier.
In fact, the barbarians and the First Battalion were not the first to act on that shout, but Luke. The little and cowardly man swiftly hid behind Luther and Henry, not even daring to show a strand of his hair. Henry couln't help but shake his head with a funny smile, noticing that the midget behind him was tightly holding his breath, afraid to be noticed. He was putting his life first, not minding his king and still dared to say that he woud raid a dragon lair.
After Luke, the barbarians were the second to act as they swiftly created a circle and positioned themselves behind their wooden shields, with weapons in hand and keeping a vigilant watch on the shadowy corners of the forest, where the sunlight was blocked by the thick and dense trees.
The First Battalion followed suit and rapidly copied the barbarian's movements. They were ordered by Luther to learn from them and replicate their ways inside the forest, since the barbarians had extensive survival experience inside the forest. And although Stahl's soldiers intitled themselves as overall better, they still resolved to follow the orders. They didn't want to die.
As for Henry, he was already behind the tight protection of Luther and the loyal Stahl's soldiers. It was the first time he would be encountering the strange creatures of this world, since even the old Henry had never faced any of those. He was excited.
"Twelve" – Henry counted as his sharp grey eyes looked around, assessing every single corner of the seeable forest. His strength as a Fourth Stage Warrior granted him a better understanding and a better view of the situation than most of those around him, except for Gedhe and Luther.
He could see intriguing and almost invisible silver webs surrounding the expedition group's way out, creating some sort of cage that gave him a dangerous feeling. Furthermore, there were swift shadows jumping from tree to tree, creating and reinforcing the webs across the trunks.
Henry observed the barbarians as they whispered in their language amongst themselves, fear clearly etched on their faces. Gedhe, the strongest among them, quickly silenced them and ordered them to focus on their surroundings.
Suddenly, a green liquid was hurled from one of the dark corners of the forest, targeting Gedhe. Thankfully, the barbarian was quick enough to raise his shield and block the attack.
*Shhhh*
The sound of the shield being corroded by the venom of the Death Spiders echoed through the forest as Gedhe quickly discarded it and retreated behind the protection of his allies, wary of the venom injuring his only remaining arm.
The potent venom excreted by Death Spiders was a formidable weapon that with time could kill even a Fifth Stage Warrior. He was brave but not stupid to remain under a rain of venom without protection.
*Shhh*
*Shhh*
*Shhh*
The Death Spiders launched a fierce attack on the Expedition Team, and those who were not quick enough to raise their shields and defend themselves were swiftly killed. The scene was chaotic and brutal.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh MY FACE! HELP ME!"- A soldier standing next to Henry was hit in the face by a shot of venom, creating a grotesque scene where the skin, bones, and muscles were slowly being dissolved.
Under a couple of seconds, the soldier's scream slowly faded away as his vocal chords were burned, leaving him to suffer in silence until his last breath. Everything happened so fast that Henry and Luther had no time to react and protect the people around.
In sum, the Expedition Team was trapped in a cage from which there was no escape and could only wait for their deaths. This was the reason why the Death Spiders were so dangerous and treacherous. They could slowly whittle down their enemies' numbers over time and from a safe distance, using their potent venom to strike at their victims.
"Luther, what are their weaknesses?" Henry urgently asked, turning his attention to Luther who was prepared to charge into the forest. He understood that while Luther was a Sixth Stage Warrior and could perceive the movements of the Death Spiders, he would not be able to eliminate them quickly enough to save more lives.
Henry was determined to save his soldiers and the barbarians, who were vital to the survival and prosperity of his kingdom. They were essential to his future plans, and he couldn't let them be sacrificed in this battle –"Those are my soldiers, damn creatures! You dare!"
Luther looked at the young king with a mix of concern and frustration. He wanted to keep Henry safe, but as a Fourth Stage Warrior, Henry was a valuable asset in the fight against the Death Spiders and a key to breaking out of the encirclement. The Imperial Technique was a must in this situation.
"Based on my experience and what little information remains in the records, Death Spiders are unholy creatures born in the shadows of darkness, which makes them particularly vulnerable to silver and fire. A touch of these substances can cause severe damage to them."- Luther said as the screams of the injured filled the forest and the sense of urgency was raised - "Their webs and bodies are covered in venom, so keep your distance and do not let them touch you."
Hearing Luther's explanation, a cold smile formed on Henry's lips. He was determined to make these vile creatures pay for hurting his loyal subjects. He had the perfect weapon for the job.
"I will take the left side and you take the right side." Henry commanded as he unsheathed his sword, not minding Luke still behind him - "You should find another corner to hide, Luke"
First Form – Fire Sword
Henry's sword was like a beacon of light in the darkness of the forest, illuminating the shadowy corners where the Death Spiders lurked. The young king could see the fear etched on the creatures' faces as they caught sight of his sword.
Unfortunately for them, Henry and Luther wouldn't let them regroup with the others and wait for another trap.
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