PETF 20

Chapter 20

The Spider Queen’s Nest

<Some time later, inside the dungeon “Spider Queen’s Nest.”>

Inside this dungeon appeared the F-rank normal monster Arachne and the F+-rank rare monster Arachne Queen.

After entering the dungeon, Woo-hyun drew his sword Dracula and began exploring the interior.

Thud—

As he moved forward, he suddenly stopped—he had sensed movement behind him.

Whoosh—Thwack!

Woo-hyun twisted his body immediately, and a ball of spider silk flew past his side and slammed into the ground.

“A welcoming party right from the start, huh.”

Tatatatat!!!

As soon as he spotted the Arachne, Woo-hyun charged with Dracula in hand.

Fwoosh—

Red mana flared along Dracula’s blade as the Arachne raised its front legs, threatening him.

Karrarrr!!!

It swung its poison-coated forelegs toward Woo-hyun. Just as he was about to counter with Dracula—

Thwip!

The Arachne curled its abdomen into a “C” shape and shot a web at him.

It was a classic Arachne tactic—pretend to strike with venomous legs, then ensnare the enemy with webs.

“Like I haven’t seen that trick a thousand times already, idiot.”

Woo-hyun smirked to himself.

<Blood Protection>

Paaak!

A blood-magic barrier appeared before him, blocking the web. At the same time, he used his Light Step ability to dart sideways in an instant.

Paang! Paang!

With just two quick bursts of movement, Woo-hyun zig-zagged in a Z-shaped path, dodged the poison claws, and rushed the Arachne.

Shhk!!!

Dracula slashed horizontally, cutting clean through the monster’s torso.

Thud, thud—

Its human-shaped upper body and spider-shaped lower half separated and tumbled across the ground.

Srrrng—

Without pause, Woo-hyun drew a dagger from his bag.

Porters were called porters, but their real job was closer to a field laborer—everything from butchering monsters to carrying their remains fell to them.
Woo-hyun had worked as a veteran porter for over ten years in his first life, so dissecting monsters was second nature.

Schk! Schhk—

With practiced hands, he cut into the Arachne’s upper body, cleanly removing its poison gland from the neck area and carefully placing it into a special pouch so it wouldn’t burst.

Next, he sliced open the lower abdomen to extract the silk gland and bladder.

At the moment, Erzebet had released her physical manifestation and was conserving blood energy for Woo-hyun’s upcoming “Ten Venoms Immunity” enhancement event, so she didn’t notice him collecting extra parts.

“Since I’m here anyway, might as well grab everything useful.”

He only needed one poison gland right now, but he figured there was no harm in taking the silk and bladder too.
He had come here alone and had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush.

“Okay! Next!”

After stowing the organs into separate pouches, Woo-hyun looked up.
Dozens of Arachnes were crawling toward him.

He gripped Dracula, its blade again glowing red.

Fwoooosh—

“Disgusting little creeps.”

Tatatatat!!!

Karrarrr!!!

Woo-hyun dashed toward the horde at hurricane speed, beginning his massacre.

<Some time later, deep inside the dungeon>

“Huff… huff… huff…”

Standing atop a mountain of Arachne corpses, Woo-hyun panted heavily, drenched head to toe in spider blood.

[Gift – Vampirism absorbs Arachne blood.]

[Stat – +2 Sensory gained.]

“Ugh. Sensory again? Why do these damn Arachnes only ever boost my senses?”

—“You do realize if other players heard you complain about getting free stats, they’d slap you, right?”—

Erzebet’s voice echoed inside him now that she had nearly finished conserving her blood energy.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m just grumbling. So, are you done storing up energy?”

—“Almost. Just need one last bite from those over there to finish up.”—

Following her gaze, Woo-hyun looked toward the massive forms approaching—the F+-rank rare monsters, Arachne Queens.

“So once we kill those, we can start the skill enhancement event, right?”

—“As long as you don’t drain too much blood essence, yes.”—

Woo-hyun twirled Dracula with a grin.

“Hopefully one of them drops a skill. Think they will?”

—“That depends on your luck. But since they’re higher ranked than the regular ones, your chances are better.”—

Smirking, Woo-hyun advanced toward the three approaching Arachne Queens.

“Three of them. If I kill them all, at least one should drop something.”

Karrarrr!!!

The Queen on the right spewed a stream of poison toward him.

Ssshhh!!!

<Blood Protection>

Splash—drip—

Woo-hyun blocked it with a blood barrier. Just as the shield began to fade—

Whooom!!!

Without hesitation, he hurled Dracula straight at the rightmost Queen’s head.

Paang! Paang!

Then he used Light Step to dash sideways in a zig-zag motion, closing in.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

He ran along the wall, firing mana bullets to distract the Queen.
Annoyed by the constant attacks, it twisted its body to dodge the oncoming Dracula and focused on Woo-hyun instead.

Kraaa!!!

BOOM!!!

Its massive foreleg smashed into the wall where Woo-hyun had just been, leaving a huge crater.

Tap!

But he was already gone—running along the wall, he appeared behind it.

“Got you.”

Grab—

Catching Dracula midair, Woo-hyun swung down at the back of the Queen’s neck.

<Blood Slash>

Slishhhhhh!!!

A crescent-shaped red energy wave burst from Dracula, slicing clean through the creature’s neck.

Thud!

Its decapitated body convulsed before collapsing.
The remaining two Queens screeched, raising their front legs threateningly.

Karrarrr!!!

Sensing he wasn’t an easy target, both lunged simultaneously.

Boom! Crash!!!

“Whoa!”

Woo-hyun leapt up the wall with Light Step and hurled Dracula again—this time at the leftmost Queen.

Fwoosh!!!

Karrk! Karrk! Karrarrrk!!!

The left Queen seemed to mock him: “You think the same trick will work twice, fool?”
It deflected Dracula with its claws.

Whirr—Thud!!

The blade spun off and embedded itself in the cave ceiling.

As Woo-hyun appeared to be unarmed, the Queen turned its head toward him—

<Blood Smash>

Baaam!!!

—only to be struck squarely in the face by Woo-hyun’s fist.

Karr…?

Its head snapped back as it went limp, unconscious.

But the middle Queen saw an opportunity—Woo-hyun was floating midair, wide open.

It lunged, jaws gaping, venomous fangs bared.

“Here—chew on this.”

Bang! Bang!!

Karrreeeeek!!!

At point-blank range, Woo-hyun fired mana bullets straight into both its eyes.

Eyes—the weakest point in almost every creature.
For Arachnes, whose upper halves were humanoid, they had only one pair of eyes instead of many.

The Queen shrieked, blinded instantly.

Grab—

“Up we go!”

Woo-hyun jumped, grabbed Dracula from the ceiling, then kicked off using Reinforced Body like a frog, launching himself toward the left Queen.

Slaaaashhhhh!!!

Holding Dracula in a reverse grip, he drove it into the monster’s chest.

His weight behind the strike, the blade tore from chest to navel, splitting the creature in half.
The bisected Queen collapsed with a heavy thud.

Woo-hyun ripped Dracula free—

Splat!!!

The final, blinded Queen thrashed wildly, slashing the air in panic.

Woo-hyun dashed forward.

Tatatat! Paang!!!

<Blood Slash>

Slishhhhh!!!

Thud—Crack—Boom!!!

In a single motion, he swung Dracula and decapitated the last Arachne Queen.
Its head and body rolled separately across the stone floor.

<Some time later>

Thump—

After finishing his butchering, Woo-hyun drove Dracula into the Queen’s heart.

[Gift – Vampirism absorbs Arachne Queen’s blood.]
[Stat – +5 Strength gained.]

[Gift – Vampirism absorbs Arachne Queen’s blood.]
[Stat – +6 Agility gained.]

[Gift – Vampirism absorbs Arachne Queen’s blood.]
[Skill – Spider Web (E+) acquired.]

At last, Woo-hyun obtained the skill he’d wanted—Spider Web (E+).

“Finally.”

He tested it immediately.
Thin, white strands shot out from his palm—just like that famous superhero movie’s spider guy.

“Not bad at all. This’ll be pretty useful.”