Who Really Is the Hunter?
28
The fight was fierce, and the team of more than fifty hunters displayed all kinds of abilities against the swarm of hybrid mutant spiders. The battle lasted almost an hour before the creatures were finally defeated.
Silence took over the cave amidst the hunters' heavy breathing; they only wished to gain experience in the dungeon.
Tiffany and her group were forced to return to the surface. There was nothing left for them to find in the cave.
The large trees blocked the sunlight. The air suddenly became humid, clinging to the hunters' skin. Tiffany and the other hunters heard a snap, as if the forest itself were whispering something.
Tiffany held her breath for a second. She felt the air changing direction as they moved.
"Something is approaching. Stay alert in your positions," Rouke, the leader, warned everyone. His perception attribute indicated that something was coming at high speed.
"Daniel, go check what it is," Rouke pointed in a direction.
Daniel used Ghost Step Lv2. His agile movements made no sound, and he quickly landed on the branches of the trees.
Everyone felt the ground vibrate beneath their feet. First it was a short wave, then like an earthquake, as if something was coming from the ground toward them. The trees around them began to sink, one after another.
Rouke wielded two weapons, an axe and a shield. He raised the shield and used an ability. Brem pulled back the string of his bow, preparing a precise attack. Liam had a mana orb ready, poised to fire as soon as the enemy appeared.
Then the enemies revealed themselves. From the deepest parts of the forest, some hid among the trees while others emerged from underground: mutant humanoid spiders.
They had four legs and a torso like a human, disproportionate arms with razor-sharp claws, lateral fangs dripping venom, and exuding a putrid smell.
The spider monsters adopted a circular formation, cutting off the hunters' retreat path. Their multiple eyes blinked in unison, analyzing all the hunters' movements.
The spiders attacked with brutal precision. Rouke used an ability from his Guardian class: Unbreakable Shield Lv3. Even though the shield was powerful, it was practically impossible to protect more than fifty hunters with a single skill.
The huntersspecifically three who were out of Rouke's shield rangewere pierced by numerous silver spider webs, their bodies lifted into the air.
The affected hunters screamed before disappearing, dragged into the dark parts of the forest. Brem fired rapid shots with his lightning arrows, the electric discharge tearing through the spiders with their webs.
Liam twirled his staff, his voice firm. Mana Orbs Lv3 were unleashed in an instantfour orbs shot toward four different monsters, exploding them simultaneously.
The green blood of the spiders splashed everywhere. Tiffany did not remain idle; she used Wind Blades Lv3, green blades formed from condensed winds that spun on themselves, and sliced a spider into several pieces.
All the hunters unleashed their attacks one after another, creating a cacophony of sounds and bright lights as their skills were activated. The five leaders had their auras fully active, instilling fear in the spiders.
The spiders hesitated for a brief moment, but before anyone could relax or celebrate the short-lived victory and mourn the fallen, it was as if the spiders had received some kind of command, making them attack with even greater ferocity.
The ten hunters guarding the rear were isolated by the spider swarm without noticing. Thick threads of silver webs descended in arcs.
The hunters were entangled around their limbs and necks. Before they could scream in terror, their bodies were covered by the silver threads, their limbs and necks pulled in opposite directions.
The victims were dragged away, disappearing from the battlefield at some point.
The smell of fresh blood dominated the forest. The group finally began to comprehend the horrors they had to facethis was only the beginning.
Daniel used Predator Mark Lv3 on a spider he identified as an alpha female of the spider swarm.
Now that the creature glowed with a red target on its abdomen, Brem took advantage of the opening created by his companion. His arrows fired three precise shots at the marked target.
The leader's carapace was exposed, releasing viscous venom that splattered across the dark forest. Liam raised an Ecstasy Field Lv2; the spiders lost part of their mobility within the field.
Tiffany used Gale Step, appearing behind the spiders that were aiming to attack Rouke, threatening the protective barrier. Then she activated Storm Slash Lv2, creating a whirlwind of wind blades that sliced the spiders within her reach.
Rouke dismantled the shield's protection with his raised axe and used Seismic Hammer Lv3, a powerful strike that crushed more than thirty spiders at once. The remaining shockwave pushed back the surrounding spiders.
Even with the hunters' relentless attacks, it seemed that the swarm had no end. Those who realized it were surrounded againfive of the hunters had no chance.
The spiders' fangs pierced and injected venom into their bodies, almost instantly weakening them as their bodies were dragged into the swarm.
Tiffany held her breath. She could do nothing. Spiders were everywhere, and the five hunters could not protect everyone. Amid the many deaths, the other hunters began to falter.
They feared being the next to be killed by the spiders. Tiffany was afraid too, but she could not give in. If fear took over, everyone would end up dead.
At this moment, fifteen hunters had already been killed, leaving forty fighting fiercely for their lives.
The ground shook again, as if something even more terrifying was coming. Rouke knew they could not maintain this pace; no matter how many they killed, more spiders emerged from all sides.
The worst partthere were no corpses to gauge how many they had killed. When someone was killed, spider or hunter, the bodies were dragged into the darkness of the forest.
"Everyone, pay attention. We have to retreat for now. Adopt a formation for withdrawal."
Everyone agreed with Rouke's words. Now the question in their hearts was where they should retreat tothey were practically surrounded.
"We have to get out as fast as possible. I sense something truly powerful approaching, a very strong presence."
Brem activated Shadow Camouflage, covering all members of the group, and shouted to Rouke:
"My ability won't last long. We must hurry in our retreat." His voice carried an urgency never before seen on the hunter's face.