Battle with the Shadow Spider
89 charged forward, weaving through the battlefield as the Shadow Spider loomed over him. The mages and tanks held their ground from the rear, providing support, but one massive spider remained—far stronger than the others.
"This one's different," 89 thought. "Stronger… almost an S-rank."
The Shadow Spider lunged at him, its massive, jagged limb slicing through the air. 89 barely reacted in time, leaping upward just as the attack smashed into the ground. BOOM! The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the battlefield, leaving behind a gaping crater.
His eyes widened. "If that had hit me..." He didn't finish the thought. He was still midair, exposed, while the spider's limb was momentarily stuck in the shattered ground.
"Now's my chance!"
Gathering power, 89 pulled back his right fist. A fiery red aura burst to life around his arm, crackling with raw energy.
"Take this… FIRE BLAST!"
With all his strength, he drove his fist down into the Shadow Spider's skull. The moment his punch connected—BOOM!—a wave of fire erupted from the impact, engulfing the monster in an explosion of searing flames.
The Shadow Spider collapsed to the ground, its massive body twitching as despair filled its many eyes.
89 gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His mana was nearly depleted, and exhaustion weighed on him like a boulder. "Finally… we did it," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
45 stood beside him, surveying the aftermath. "If this was just the beginning, and it was already this monstrous… then in the end, how strong will the real monsters be?"
89 tried to move, but pain shot through his body. Blood dripped from deep gashes on his leg and arm.
"Wait, 89! Your leg and hand are injured!" 45 rushed forward, placing a hand on 89's wounds. A soft glow emanated from his palms as he cast a healing spell, slowly closing the injuries.
As he finished healing the arm and moved to the leg, the air around them shifted.
Suddenly, the environment darkened—thick, black smoke swirled around them, creeping across the battlefield like living shadows. The smoke gathered at the center, forming into a new, larger, and even more terrifying Shadow Spider.
This time, it wasn't just a strong monster—it radiated S-rank power.
The Shadow Spider let out a piercing screech, releasing a wave of dark energy. The sheer force of it sent chills down their spines.
A B-rank tank rushed forward, trying to block the wave with a barrier spell. But the moment the energy crashed against it—the shield shattered.
The tank stumbled back, coughing up blood, before collapsing to the ground.
The battlefield trembled.
45 rushed forward, trying to cast a spell to support 89, but before he could react— SHLACK!
The Shadow Spider struck, its jagged limb piercing straight through the tank's head. Blood splattered as its monstrous claw burst out from the other side.
89 and 45 froze. Their breath hitched.
This wasn't the same monster they had been fighting before. This Shadow Spider was faster, stronger… smarter. It had sensed the tank's weak point and struck without hesitation.
This was an S-rank monster.
The air grew heavy. A black aura seeped from the Shadow Spider's body, its crimson eyes glowing like burning embers. The temperature seemed to drop as an overwhelming pressure washed over them. They were sweating. Shaking.
They had managed to kill two of its kind before—but this one was different. They had already lost two members.
And now, the Shadow Spider slowly turned toward them.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dungeon, Arya moved alone through the pitch-black hallway. He was searching for 28 and 99, his grip tightening around his sword. Releasing a faint energy, the blade glowed dimly, just enough to reveal his surroundings.
But it wasn't enough. Shadows loomed. Darkness pressed in.
Then, suddenly—
A whisper.
A voice called his name.
Again and again.
He ignored it, focusing ahead. The deeper he walked, the closer he got to the Shadow Hounds' lair.
At the end of the hallway, he finally reached a door—already open.
"Did 99 and 28 go inside?" he wondered, stepping forward.
Back at the battlefield, 89 and 45 had no choice. Running wasn't an option.
If they wanted to move forward, they had to kill the Shadow Spider.
89 clenched his fists. "Listen, 45… we can't defeat this thing. But we have to try."
He took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto the monster. "I'll rush in. You support me from behind."
45 swallowed hard but nodded. There was no turning back.
The battlefield raged on.
89 charged forward, fists clenched, ready to strike—but before he could reach, the Shadow Spider opened its mouth.
SPLASH!
A stream of thick, purple poison shot toward him.
"89, be careful!" 45 shouted.
89's eyes locked onto the incoming poison. Too fast. Too close. But he didn't hesitate.
His red aura flared to life, wrapping around his body. He shifted his stance—right hand pulled back, left leg bent slightly forward. Then—
BOOM!
He punched the air.
For a moment, nothing happened. The poison was almost upon him—
Then, suddenly—
A shockwave exploded forward.
A powerful blast of air surged outward, sending the poison flying back toward the Shadow Spider.
The monster shrieked as its own venom splashed onto its body, melting its flesh.
45's eyes widened. "That poison is deadly. If it touches us, we're done for."
But just as they thought it was over—
SHKKK!
The Shadow Spider's wounds regenerated instantly.
Its red eyes glowed with rage. Dark energy crackled around it, and with a deafening roar, it unleashed a shockwave of pure force.
A storm of dust and debris filled the battlefield.
89 rubbed his eyes, struggling to see.
Too late.
Through the dust, the Shadow Spider lunged straight at him.
45 reacted fast. "Not this time!" He raised his hands and cast Fire Wave.
FWOOOSH!
A burst of flames collided with the monster's limb, stopping it inches before it could crush 89.
"Are you okay?!" 45 called out.
89 gritted his teeth. "Thanks. But my mana is running out... I need to finish this now."
Without hesitation, he rushed forward.
45 followed.
Their movements were in perfect sync.
89 attacked from the front—dodging, striking with his fists and legs. 45 cast his magic from behind, freezing the Shadow Spider's legs.
Seeing the chance, 89 leaped high into the air, his fist burning with red flames.
"This time, you're dead for sure!"
BOOOOM!
His fiery punch smashed into the Shadow Spider's head, creating a massive explosion.
But before they could even breathe—
SHKKK!
The Shadow Spider regenerated again.
Both 89 and 45 were exhausted.
And the monster wasn't done yet.
With blinding speed, the Shadow Spider struck 45—its powerful claw slamming him into a wall.
CRACK!
The wall split. Blood spilled from 45's mouth.
He collapsed to the ground. Motionless.
As his body slammed into the wall, a sickening crack echoed through the battlefield. Pain shot through his spine like a lightning bolt, and his vision blurred. He gasped, blood dripping from his mouth, as unbearable agony spread through his back. His legs trembled—he could barely stand.
"45!!" 89 screamed.
The Shadow Spider turned toward him next.
Before it could finish 45 off, he grabbed the monster's leg with all his strength—and with a final effort, threw it away.
89 rushed to his side, trying to lift him up.
"Can you stand?"
Slowly, 45 pushed himself up, but he was barely able to move.
The Shadow Spider charged again.
"Don't worry about me," 45 panted. "Let's end this."
They launched their final attack together.
45 cast a magic rope—blue energy chains wrapped around the Shadow Spider, binding it in place.
"89, this is our last chance!"
89 nodded and rushed in—
But before he could strike, the Shadow Spider broke free.
WHAM!
It hit 89 hard, sending him crashing to the ground.
He couldn't move.
The Shadow Spider loomed over him, raising its claw for the final blow.
This is it.
89 closed his eyes, bracing for death.
But when he opened them—
He saw 45 standing in front of him.
The Shadow Spider's claw… had pierced straight through 45's chest.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
"Why...?!" 89's voice cracked.
45 coughed, blood spilling from his lips. He smiled weakly.
"Because… you're my best friend."
89's hands trembled. "Damn it, 45! You—"
45 cut him off with a faint chuckle. "Remember when we were kids…?"
89's mind flashed back—
Palpa Village.
A small assassin village nestled between two mountains, known for training warriors.
A weak boy named Arjun Sai(45)—born into a family of sword assassins—was constantly beaten. His siblings overpowered him. His own mother resented him.
To them, he was useless.
The village kids bullied him, throwing stones at him.
Until one day—
A boy caught the stone mid-air.
"Arjun looked at him—at the boy who caught the stone."
It was 89.
The other kids laughed. "Look! The loser has a friend now!"