Following the map Grimnar had given him, Kaito trekked deeper into the unknown, the road to the mines far more difficult than he'd imagined.
It was supposed to be a short trip — but reality had other plans.
Kaito traversed dense forests, endless plains, and quiet villages. Along the way, he battled wild monsters, each encounter draining more of his stamina. A few times, he had nearly collapsed, but the thought of his mission kept him going. He couldn't afford to stop now.
After what felt like days of grueling travel, he finally saw the entrance to the mines as the sun dipped behind the jagged mountain peaks. His legs ached, and his body screamed for rest, but there was no time for that. He had a job to do.
"Phew, that's so tiring," Kaito muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart thudded with exhaustion as he gazed at the entrance ahead.
It was as grim as the map had suggested.
The mine's entrance was a massive, rocky structure, ancient and worn by time. The smell hit him immediately — a strong stench of burnt coal that made his stomach churn. He gagged, but there was no turning back. He tore off a piece of cloth from his shirt and tied it tightly around his nose and mouth, desperate to block out the scent.
Drawing a deep breath, Kaito stepped inside.
The air inside was cold, and the darkness was almost suffocating. He could hear the distant drip of water echoing off the stone walls. His torch flickered feebly in the gloom, casting eerie shadows that seemed to shift as though something was watching him.
His footsteps echoed in the silence as he followed the rail tracks deeper into the mine. The further he went, the colder and darker it became.
"Master," Kaito asked mentally, trying to distract himself from the mounting tension. "Are we close to the deepest part yet?"
"Not yet, kid. We're only halfway," came the calm response.
Kaito sighed, his shoulders sagging with fatigue. His legs felt like lead, and doubt began to creep into his mind. Maybe he should turn back. Maybe this wasn't worth it.
But just as quickly as the thought entered his mind, Kaito shook it off. He had a mission, and he would see it through.
"I'm not quitting," he muttered to himself, steeling his resolve.
Then he froze.
Something moved in the darkness ahead.
His senses flared. He scanned the area, eyes darting from side to side, searching for any hint of danger. He saw nothing at first, but his instincts screamed at him. Something was coming.
He tensed, readying himself.
Suddenly, a shadow above him shifted, and before he could react, a venomous spider, the size of a large dog, dropped from the ceiling, its fangs sinking into his leg with a sickening crunch.
"ARGHH!!" Kaito screamed, stumbling back.
[System Notice: User has been poisoned.]
[System Warning: Venom must be treated or death will occur.]
[Countdown: 10:00 minutes remaining.]
Pain exploded in his leg, sharp and excruciating. His vision blurred for a moment as the venom spread through his bloodstream. The area around the bite turned a sickly purple, and every breath he took seemed to burn his lungs.
Panic rose in his chest.
"System!" Kaito shouted, clutching his leg. "How do I treat it?!"
[System: To treat the venom, find a special herb and craft an antidote.]
Gritting his teeth, Kaito glanced around, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to waste time. He was already on a countdown. He could feel the venom spreading, but there was no time to panic. He had to act.
The mine was dark, the only light coming from the torch in his hand, but his senses were sharp. He spotted two tunnels ahead — one pitch black, the other glowing faintly with a soft, eerie green light.
His gut told him to head toward the green glow. The urgency in his veins made him dash toward the light, praying it was his answer.
Through the haze of pain, he spotted it — a glowing herb, nestled between two jagged rocks. Its leaves shimmered like emeralds, glowing faintly in the darkness.
Kaito didn't hesitate. He snatched the herb and ripped it from its place.
But then he heard it.
A low, chittering sound echoed through the mine. More spiders. Dozens of them, crawling along the walls and ceiling, their eyes gleaming in the torchlight.
"System!" Kaito barked, his hands trembling as he began to crush the herb. "Show me how to craft the antidote!"
[System: Crush the herb into paste. Mix it with clean water. Apply to wound immediately.]
Kaito's hands were shaking with pain, but he worked quickly. His fingers ripped the herb apart, crushing it into a sticky green paste. He pulled out his waterskin, poured a few drops of water, and mixed it into the paste. The result was a pungent, thick green liquid.
He slapped the paste onto the bite as the spiders closed in.
A searing pain shot through his leg as the antidote began to work. He gritted his teeth, refusing to scream, but every muscle in his body screamed in agony. His leg burned with heat, but it was a burning that promised salvation.
[System Notice: Antidote applied. Venom resistance rising.]
The countdown on the system screen slowed, and the painful throbbing in his leg began to subside.
Just as he thought he had a moment of relief, the spiders lunged.
The first one came at him fast, its fangs bared. Kaito swung his torch like a club, smashing it across the creature's head. The spider squealed, disintegrating into blue sparks, its body vanishing into mana particles.
But there were too many.
Two more charged at him from opposite sides. Kaito dove under one, narrowly avoiding its venomous bite, and pivoted just in time to drive his fist into the second spider's thorax, exploding it into a wet, squishy mess.
His heart pounded in his chest as he spun, his fists ready for the next attack.
This wasn't just a fight anymore. It was survival.
Then came the biggest one — the giant spider, easily twice his size. It dropped from the ceiling with a shriek that made Kaito's blood run cold. Its venomous fangs glistened in the dim light.
Kaito narrowed his eyes. His heart raced, but a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. This was exactly what he needed.
"Bring it," he growled under his breath.
The spider lunged with terrifying speed, but Kaito was ready. He dodged sideways, feeling the rush of air as the monster's massive body missed him by mere inches. He countered with a spinning punch, his fist enhanced by magic, and cracked the spider's exoskeleton.
It shrieked in pain, reeling back.
Not giving it a chance to recover, Kaito surged forward with all his might, roaring as he drove his fist straight through its head. The spider crumpled to the ground, its body dissolving into mana particles.
Kaito staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body was drenched in sweat and blood, his muscles screaming in protest, but there was no time to rest. The chittering was getting louder, and the ground trembled underfoot.
A new shadow slithered from the depths of the mine.
Kaito raised his torch higher, and his heart skipped a beat.
A monstrous figure, even larger than the giant spider, crawled out from the darkness. Its eyes glowed bright red, and venom dripped from its massive fangs.
The Spider King.
Kaito clenched his fists, his whole body trembling with exhaustion.
But then, against all logic, he grinned.
"Good," he said, his voice hoarse but filled with a sense of excitement. "I needed a real fight."