[System: The measurement of levels will now commence]
[Time remaining until completion: 03:00:00.]
I swiftly read the message.
‘Are they really measuring levels like this?’
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be certain as I couldn’t recall that specific detail.
A new window opened before my eyes, and I frowned upon seeing it.
[Quest: Eliminate the boss and secure the core]
[Success: Acquired Fragment of Memory (1/7)]
[Failure: Death of Alex Luteous]
“…What?”
“Did you also read the message? They’re measuring levels, right?”
Alex groaned beside me, showing no interest in accepting an additional quest.
I grinned not even knowing what quest I had been given.
“You claimed to be stronger than me, right? Let’s test that.”
With a creaking sound, Alex stepped out from the shade, exuding confidence as he drew his sword.
I hastily removed my veil.
“Why should I concern myself with such a bastard?”
I didn’t care whether the guy lived or died.
But failing the quest would be a setback.
I needed to obtain the fragments of memory, and missing out on the boss’s core would be a waste.
“It could be sold for a substantial amount. How can I simply give up on that?”
Annoyed, I let out a sigh and directed my gaze towards the gate.
Hunters had gathered around the gate, each wielding their weapons with a tense expression.
Their numbers amounted to approximately three hundred.
Taking into account the hunters who were absent and those from other countries, it was a relatively small number.
‘Among them, there might not be many formidable individuals…’
Johann, Kael, Alex. Are they the only ones I know?
While observing the hunters, someone unexpected caught my attention.
Prince Dante.
He stood a step away from the rest of the hunters, completely motionless.
‘Was the Prince also a hunter?’
For the hunters, this gate marked their first attack.
Furthermore, with the inclusion of level measurement, it was natural for them to feel tense.
However, I couldn’t detect any signs of crisis or tension from him.
He didn’t even unsheathe his weapon.
With both hands tucked into his pants pockets, he slightly tilted his head, seemingly uninterested in the gate.
Sporting a lazy and indifferent expression.
“It’s coming out!”
From the gate that had previously emitted only light, eight hairy legs suddenly burst out.
Next, a head with twelve eyeballs and attached pincers appeared, followed by a sturdy torso resembling armor, and finally, a vividly striped yellow abdomen emerged.
Emerging from the gate was a colossal tarantula, measuring over 10 meters in length.
Upon its emergence, it immediately began spewing silk into the air.
The banners set up to honor the victims gave rise to large spiderwebs.
A large spider web was created between the banners commemorating the victims.
Something resembling a pill bug tumbled out from its transformed lower opening.
There were over fifty eggs, slightly larger than a fist.
Several hunters approached the eggs.
As the shells cracked, something squirming rolled out from within.
Initially, it appeared like beads, but suddenly, it rapidly inflated.
Before long, eight elongated legs extended outward.
It was a baby spider, measuring about 1 meter in length.
The boss remained encased in a protective shield, adhered to the spiderwebs, showing no signs of attacking.
The hunters scoffed at its underwhelming appearance compared to their expectations.
“Is that all it is?”
“Come on, we were nervous for no reason.”
“I thought the level measurement would make it incredibly difficult… but it seems we can take it easy, right?”
*Tsk, tsk, tsk*
I clicked my tongue.
‘It’s hasty to judge solely based on appearances. The true power of that creature lies in its ability to reproduce.’
That monster has the characteristic of scattering eggs two or three times as a test as soon as it comes out of the gate.
The newborn spiderlings served the purpose of removing obstacles and ensuring safety.
Only after that, it would lay eggs and initiate their attack seriously.
‘That’s the only chance to attack.’
Even in my previous life, when it appeared, the entire country would be on high alert.
No matter what measures were taken, preventing loss of life was impossible.
Kieak!
The baby spiders swiftly crawled and then opened their jaws wide.
Thin white threads shot out from within and wrapped around the ankles of people standing on the street.
“Where?!”
A nearby hunter swung his sword down at the threads.
Tang!
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Read from the original site [ https://moonlightnovel.com/ ]
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However, instead of being severed, the threads deflected the sword.
The tremendous recoil caused the hunter to stagger heavily.
“H-How is this possible…?”
“Ugh, ugh, aaargh!”
Meanwhile, the person whose ankles were bound collapsed like a deflated balloon.
His skin became wrinkled, his hair fell out in clumps.
Bones were exposed, and his stomachs caved in. The anguished screams abruptly ceased.
“I heard it feeds on human bodily fluids as nutrients to reproduce! We need to evacuate the people first…”
Before someone could shout a warning, the spiders that had consumed the bodily fluids began to tremble violently and then burst with a loud pop.
A noxious-smelling, dark liquid erupted sporadically, permeating the air with an unpleasant stench.
“…!”
In an instant, an unforeseen self-destruction took everyone by surprise.
Emerging from the remains of the deceased spider, ten spiders crawled out from each carcass.
In the blink of an eye, the initial fifty spiders multiplied into a staggering five hundred.
The entire process occurred at an astonishingly rapid pace.
Estimating the extent of their multiplication became a challenging task.
And that wasn’t the end.
The most significant issue lay in the unknown number of eggs carried by the mother spider.
The hunters’ expressions hardened.
“Kyaaah!”
“Ughhh! No! Let go of me!”
“Please, please, save me!”
The hunt for the B-class monsters, the spiders that fed on human bodily fluids and reproduced, had begun.
Those who fled but were unable to escape, the injured, and even the weaker hunters fell prey to the spiders.
The central plaza became a feeding ground essential for their multiplication.
With delight, the spiders devoured humans, causing their bodies to burst and increase their ranks.
Amidst the chaos, Johann stood, extending his hand as if yearning for the sky.
A low hum resonated from an unknown source.
The wind gently caressed Johann’s soft blond hair as it passed by.
Gradually, a brilliant light poured down from the sky, enveloping Johann in pure whiteness.
Captivated by the scene, people were spellbound by its noble and sacred aura.
In an instant, an immense light emanated from him, encircling the vicinity of the central plaza.
Johann opened his eyes, which had been closed. His moist blue eyes shimmered and glistened.
“Special move, Light Cope.”
Light Cope was a special secret technique exclusive to the priest class, which confined monsters within a designated area.
‘He already got that?’
I vaguely remembered that it required a considerable number of points for exchange at the shop, so how…?
‘Ah! There must be a big shot among Johann’ Holy Sees.’
In any case, it was a shrewd judgment.
Right now, the priority was to prevent the spiders from escaping the central plaza and cease their endless multiplication.
“But it won’t last long.”
The more extensive the ability, the shorter its duration.
Moreover, there were still people who hadn’t managed to escape the central plaza.
The spiders that had completed their first round of multiplication were in a situation where they could multiply once more.
The 500 spiders could increase to over 5,000.
With determination, the weary hunters surged forward, launching themselves at the spiders.
At that very moment, kael made his appearance on one side of the central plaza.
As he chanted an incantation, the wind howled fiercely.
His robe billowed as if it might tear apart, and an ominous aura spread in all directions.
Just as the illumination in the central plaza seemed to fade, he directed his finger towards the ground.
“HELL INFERNO, burn all living beings.”
A colossal flame erupted within the designated area, swirling like a vortex.
It was a hellish inferno that engulfed everything in its vicinity.
The nearby spiders were ruthlessly drawn into its grasp.
Truly, it was the prelude to a war unfolding.
Chimeras summoned by the summoner let out thunderous roars, while sparks of fire and lightning danced sporadically.
The resounding battle cries of the swordsmen ripped through the central plaza.
Everyone fought desperately, aiming to annihilate the monsters before the Light Cope dissipated.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, I seized Genia’s face and locked gazes with her.
Geniia’s eyes were filled with terror, trembling uncontrollably.
“Genia.”
“Um, what should I do…?”
“Genia!”
“Yes? Yes, yes, My lady…”
“Hurry, go outside the central plaza and find a secluded place.”
“….”
“Genia, are you listening? Get yourself together! Do you really want to be captured by the monsters and die in such a state?”
“No, no! B-but Kun… My younger brother must be somewhere here. I can’t hide alone!”
Genia’s eyes filled with tears.
I pressed my lips together and inquired.
The crowd of people was tangled up like a swarm of ants on a cookie. It was impossible to find a child amidst the chaos.
“So, what should I do?”
I had already made up my mind to leave everything behind, regardless of whether the world was destroyed or not.
If that was the case, I shouldn’t concern myself with who lived or died.
If I offered them even the slightest chance, they might end up being victims again. However…
“Would you like to have this?”
‘Sister! Run away quickly! Hurry!’
Once again, my head throbbed. I took a deep breath and suppressed the headache.
“Phew… Does anyone know where the child is?”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t tell you, did I? Please, everyone, help me. I’m begging you.”
