Chapter 135: Stone-Skinned Spider and Sewers

Chapter 135: Stone-Skinned Spider and Sewers

Two human figures dashed ahead, screaming for help.

Chasing them from behind was a flat, multi-legged creature.

Resembling a giant spider, its skin had a rocky texture. Six flying legs moved like bayonets, swiftly advancing and making crisp "dadada" sounds upon contact with rocks, splashing gravel along the way.

"It's a Stone-Skinned Spider," Hua Mi recognized immediately.

This was a level three monster, known for its formidable defensive capabilities.

Named for its "stone skin," its shell was many times tougher than actual stone, making it difficult to penetrate with regular attacks.

Not to mention its sharp pincers, potent venom, and the ability to spin silk webs.

What puzzled him was how this creature, usually found in internal mountainous areas, ended up in the outskirts.

Those two adventurers clearly hadn't anticipated encountering the Stone-Skinned Spider here.

Their panicked escape indicated they were ill-prepared to face such a high-level creature.

They ran; it pursued.

But two legs couldn't outrun six.

The distance was closing in.

One of them cursed, abruptly turned around, and flung a gleaming weapon backward.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

The projectile hit the spider precisely, causing it to instinctively shrink its body, slowing down.

Before it was over, the weapon exploded upon contact, engulfing the spider in a sudden burst of flames.

For a moment, the two reflected hope in their eyes, as if seeing a glimmer of salvation.

Yet, in the next momentdadada.

Before the flames dissipated, the Stone-Skinned Spider burst out, moving much faster than before, its body unscathed, even appearing smoother than earlier.

The two screamed and turned to flee.

"Giggle"

The spider opened its mouth, spewing a pristine silk thread that instantly entangled the legs of the attacker.

He fell face-first to the ground.

His companion hesitated, seemingly pondering whether to stop and help.

But the spider's next target was already in sight. It spat out another thread.

The person struggled like an insect, bound by the limbs, writhing on the ground.

In his desperate struggle, he caught sight of a tent on the rock wall. Clearly artificial, he disregarded any occupants, yelling, "Help, someone up there, please help!"

"Kerfuffle"

Creatures ranking as level three magical beasts often possessed some level of intelligence.

The Stone-Skinned Spider immediately turned its gaze toward the tent and swiftly crawled up the rock wall as if on level ground.

With no time to waste, Hua Mi dashed out of the tent, utilizing a swarm of bees to propel himself into the air.

He popped a few honey pills into his mouth.

In the dark, his body emitted a sacred glow.

The two bound individuals below were astonished.

What in the world? An angel?

Why is it glowing?

Despite the predominant atheism in most human nations of the western continent, people still yearned for miracles and the mystical. If it meant saving their lives, they could become believers on the spot.

Midway up the climb, the Stone-Skinned Spider stopped, seeing its prey depart from the nest. It repeated its earlier tactics, spraying a thread of silk toward the suspended human.

Hua Mi, however, remained still and faced the silk thread head-on.

In the eyes of the two below, the "angel" with the holy glow seemed just as ensnared as they were.

But upon closer inspection, the silk thread hadn't touched Hua Mi's body. It was repelled by a barrier composed of flying insects.

"Ignite."

Huff

But Carter sensed the gaze behind that hair.

As he was about to ask something, he suddenly heard an eerie sound behind him, like something viscous peeling off.

He turned abruptly.

A figure slowly emerged from the side wall.

It was a person with black cloth covering their face and a small braid pointing upward.

Clad in a black skin-tight suit, they held a peculiar jet-black short blade.

Carter's pupils contracted as he immediately recognized.

"Kunoichi..."

Swoosh

A glint flashed, and the blade in the figure's hand swiftly sliced his throat.

"Hmm?"

The figure in black frowned

, seeing the mage vanish in front of them, replaced by a torn paper figure.

"Humph, didn't expect such caution... but do you think you can run far?"

The practitioner of the paper clone technique wouldn't stray too far.

The vagabond hesitated to step forward, speaking in a garbled manner, "Ma-mast-er... I've d-done as you s-said. You s-said the G-Guild wouldhickeep their promise, r-right, Mast-ter?"

The black-clad individual glanced at him, tossing a pouch of coins.

Then, their figure dissolved into the darkness, leaving a final warning:

"Remember, keep this a secret."

"Absolutely, absolutely... hehe."

The vagabond placed the lantern on the ground, eagerly opening the pouch.

"Hehehe, striking it rich..."

He picked up two gold coins, his eyes behind the unkempt hair glowing oddly. He held a coin near his mouth.

Before he could bite into it

The coin suddenly transformed into two beetle-like creatures. Without a moment for the vagabond to react, one wormed its way into his throat, and the other pierced through his palm.

"Ah..."

He couldn't even utter a scream, losing his ability to make a sound.

His eyes bulged, hands desperately clawing at his throat, dirty nails leaving bloody streaks on his neck.

Plop

The vagabond plunged into the sewage, struggling briefly before weakly floating, drifting along with the flow.

The underground sewers returned to their serene quiet, filled only with the sound of water.

The lantern continued to emit a dim yellow light, quietly illuminating the surroundings.

---

"Huffhuff"

Carter moved quickly in the darkness based on memory.

He cast a small spell to suppress any sound of his footsteps.

Suddenly, a cold chuckle resonated from the darkness ahead.

"Crafty little mouse, where do you think you're going?"

Carter abruptly halted.

With a flick of his hand, a glowing sphere floated before him, illuminating the area around him.

A masked figure emerged slowly from the darkness.

Their eyes were heavily smudged with black paint. Too much whites, making the black parts of their eyes seem small.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're one of the 'Ten Shinobi,' right? Never thought I'd meet a mysterious ninja face to face. The Guild Leader truly holds me in high regard."