We continued through the forest a ways, each step filling our bodies with more tension as the weather grew more humid and the trees blocked out more of the light. The deeper we went, the larger the spiders became, but because of how we were moving, we were still able to avoid any soldiers or knights. Of course, I, being even more on edge than usual, helped with that. Despite their larger size, the ones we were picking fights with were still just as easy to cut down, their acid seemed to be stronger, but it hardly mastered when they never got a chance to use it.
'We've been wondering for a while now… I know we had to make some snake-like movements to avoid difficult fights, but have we really not even picked up their scent? I can't even see the lake we were aiming for from up here…' I jumped down, using wind magic to break my fall and landing with a heavy thud. "This is taking too long… Are you guys ok with fighting soldiers if we run into any? We should probably just aim straight for the lake. It would be safer if we got there before dark. I still think it would be a good idea to avoid any knights, but we are losing too much time… And honestly… Not turning a big profit… Since we are avoiding most fights…"
"Uhm… RIght… Yes well… The lake…" Dabai mumbled, looking at the map.
'Is he lost?'
"So… We are going in the right direction… Right?" Roaren asked, taking a peek.
I sighed, crossing my arms. "That depends on which direction we're going…"
They both blankly stared at me, prompting me to roll my eyes. "You know what I meant. At any rate, you don't seem to be very confident, Dabai…"
Ted let out a heavy groan, taking off his helmet and scratching his head. "Roaren usually reads the maps, but he's been focused on trying to catch a scent… Dabai, are we lost?"
"Not particularly, but the exact course may be off, and our target is not large, more of a pond than a lake, really."
'Well… He isn't wrong.' I stepped over and took a look. "As of right now… We should be right here, and the lake should be…" I suddenly paused, and a branch broke in the distance.
"Should be where?" Dabi asked.
Roaren shushed him, and everyone paused as we started looking around.
"I'm counting two…" I whispered.
"Three, one is quieter, though."
"That means it's a caster. Ted, can that shield block magic?"
"As good as any other."
'That's a no…' My breath suddenly caught in my lungs as my chest began to tighten. 'Now? All of a sudden… "I'll draw attention… From the caster…" 'but that's only half a plan… They won't be able to run, this could really be dangerous… I've never actually fought one before, I read about them, and I know the–''
Ted suddenly stepped out in front of me. "Right. Tagart, you take one, Dabai, save your mana in case they use webs, soldiers' silk has to be burned, it's too tough to cut. I'll handle the other with Roaren. Once we finish off the soldiers, we can support Chika."
My throat opened again, but it still felt like there was pressure against my neck. 'I thought I had gotten over this…' "I took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly as I stepped in front again. 'Giant spiders aren't actually insects… And the larger ones aren't drones either; they all think for themselves. Some are even more intelligent than animals like bears or dogs… In other words, they aren't mindless, so I CAN grab their attention… And to do that, I just have to make them think I'm the biggest threat…'
"Plutia, saint of healing, bless my body and give me strength, make light my weapons and armor, and deliver me through the hands of the enemy. Turn my faith into a shield of divine protection that would shield me from harm. By the power of the creator."
My sword began to glow faintly, and a shield of light appeared around me. 'I guess I'm not very holy… Only my sword got blessed… Well, my armor is light enough already… Still, disappointing considering this is every miracle I can cast for the day due to its level… I should go to church more often…'
The spiders suddenly charged over a hill and jumped down, but before the first one landed, I had already slashed off two of its legs at the last joint. 'Now these are soldiers!' I grinned seeing their massive bodies that were double the size of the others, including the soldier I had killed on my own, who was unusually small. The second one climbed down more cautiously, staring at me until it suddenly felt the sting of several arrows from Roaren. As its attention was redirected, Tagart punched the downed spider in the face, and just like that, we were in the thick of it. My job still wasn't done, though. 'Come on… Where is it… Come on…'
Growing impatient, I used a pillar of earth to shoot myself over the ridge, and for a moment, it was as if time slowed. I flew right underneath it, only seeing it out of the corner of my eye as it started to unfold from its curled-up position behind a large branch. 'Sparks…'
Somehow, I managed to react in time, just barely turning to block a crystallized frozen spear of venom. Even seeing it gave me chills, as the cold radiated to my skin from how close the fragments came to touching my body. 'It created that venom with magic…' My eyes glued themselves open from fear of missing even a single movement. 'Decay magic? If it's able to use an advanced school, that means.' I landed on the ground and readied my stance as it fully unfolded itself and dropped to the earth, landing softly like a dancer. 'Right, as I Thought… It has a crystal eye. This isn't a normal caster…'
Seeing the large ice blue gem in its forehead made my mind go clear as my thoughts drifted away from anything other than the fight and the fact I was working towards a job, in other words, working towards getting paid.
I blocked another spear of venom and, deflecting it off my great blade, managed to keep my distance. 'Decay… Poison isn't dangerous without getting cut, but venom can leave burns on contact and seep through your skin; it's still only tier two, though. In order to use decay, you need to know at least earth, plant, and water… If it only knows those three, I should be able to handle it… The crystal is blue, so its highest should be water, meaning tier two is likely the limit of its other abilities.'
As my mind accelerated, it lowered its stance, almost just like a human would, making itself closer to the earth before casting. I wasn't sure if that was why, but I had a gut feeling about what it was going to do next.
A crack in the earth suddenly formed under my feet, but I had already moved to the side, predicting earth magic. I climbed a nearby tree as fast as possible, dodging rock bullets and blocking what I had to with my sword, letting out a small growl as the metal dented and scratched. Then I used my magic to move the branch, twisting it to give me a runway right to the spider from above. 'Why is it focusing on Earth magic?' I jumped down with all my strength, but instead of the familiar feeling of my sword slashing through cleanly, I was met with a sharp vibrating ring, and my hands almost went numb as it covered itself in complete armor of stone.
My eyes slowly widened before it kicked me, throwing me back and then splashing venom all across the forest floor, slowly killing everything it touched and even wearing through my divine protection, lightly singing my armor and creating a waft of air that felt made my face feel like I had just eaten something way too spicy.
As I scrambled back up to my feet, it started pacing side to side, gathering up all the venom it had been throwing around and melting it, mixing it together and adding in some water before freezing it again and turning the whole area into a frost trap. 'How much mana does this thing have!'
'I'll need to break through its armor somehow… Even fire will just heat up the rocks instead of burning them because of its armor…' My breath showed in the chilled air as the spider began to charge, unhampered by the ice due to its pointed legs stabbing through the ground for traction. Before I even took my first step, vines grew up from the ground and wrapped around my legs and arms. 'So this… Is how monsters use magic…'