Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Princess Blazing Spider!
“A new monster?”

A knot of dread tightened in Ryan’s stomach at the thought. A spider capable of thriving in the scorching embrace of a volcano was no ordinary creature.

“If I go forward, I’m likely to run into this spider-like monster.”

Ryan exhaled deeply, steeling his resolve.

The path behind him led to the territory of the crown-level sapphire behemoth, a domain he dared not tread. Ahead, the unknown awaited, potentially fraught with dangers but possibly the lesser of two evils.

“What if this spider monster is also at the crown level?” he mused, trying to reason through his predicament. “Surely, the crown level isn’t so common that another would be lurking here…right?” The appearance of the sword-tailed monster had been an anomaly, a rare breach in the natural order where mighty predators seldom share close quarters unless the hierarchy is clear.

Typically, the vicinity of such powerful creatures is reserved for lesser beasts, those that can skirt around the fringes of dominance without directly challenging the ruling class.

Pressing on, Ryan soon came upon a vast cave. The ceiling was adorned with stalactites, and the ground bore fewer patches of magma, making the air noticeably cooler than the surrounding inferno.

Inside, the cave transformed into a sprawling lair, woven extensively with thick, white spider silk that crisscrossed in every direction, creating an intricate web that shrouded the cave like a cocoon. Strangely, there was no immediate sign of any creature, which left Ryan on high alert, gripping his greatsword tightly, ready to spring into action.

“Sisi…”

The soft, unsettling rustle of movement echoed from all corners, filling the cave with foreboding whispers. Even the path Ryan had just traversed now seemed alive with these mysterious stirrings.

“What’s going on here?” Ryan’s confusion flickered across his face. “Could these creatures burrow into the magma itself?”

Moments later, his question was answered, not by one, but by a multitude of dark red spiders, each half the height of a man, encircling him with menacing intent.

“Knock, knock… knock, knock…”

The sounds heralded something larger: a colossal female spider, nearly eight meters in height, black with striking red stripes, pushed through the dense webbing. The white silk draped around her like a bridal gown, adding a chilling grace to her formidable presence.

As she advanced, the oppressive aura of a superior predator filled the cave, confronting Ryan with a threat that was both breathtaking and terrifying.

The oppressive force radiating from the creature was even more daunting than that of the Black Roar Dragon.

Upper three stars!

Despite the imminent danger, a faint smile tugged at Ryan’s lips. Having survived an encounter with a “crown” level behemoth, he found an odd comfort in facing an adversary from the “upper three stars” category. To him, these were formidable yet somehow less daunting; challenging, yet not entirely overwhelming.

Princess Blazing Spider: [Upper]

This horned variant of the superior monster, the Princess Spider, boasts a darkened shell and explosive attacks. It can ignite its spider silk to launch explosive assaults.

The Princess Blazing Spider, cumbersome and slow, relies on a unique tactic during hunts. It uses a commanding roar, infused with signals, to direct its Guardian Spiders in coordinated attacks. These minions discharge spider silk as tough as their leader’s, capable of shooting both linear strands and sticky, block-shaped webs. The latter linger on the ground, forming devious traps that ensnare any unwary foe who treads on them.

Ryan’s eyes blazed with a renewed fighting spirit as he read the prompt that appeared before him. While he acknowledged his disadvantage against a “crown” behemoth, the outcome against an “upper three stars” creature was still up for grabs.

“Squeak–!”

The sharp hiss of the Princess Blazing Spider was a signal for the encircling dark red guard spiders. They sprang into action, weaving a barrage of attacks. Threads of linear silk shot towards Ryan while chunkier, more viscous webs splattered around him, setting a snare that would bind and immobilize him upon contact, making him an easy target.

Ryan furrowed his brow at this onslaught. It was his first encounter with a creature like the Princess Blazing Spider that orchestrated its subordinates in such a strategic manner, a stark contrast to the solitary predators he had faced previously.

Realizing that his usual special sword skills would be inadequate against this type of multi-faceted, persistent assault, given the transient nature of his “dominant blood film” Ryan quickly adapted.

His mind raced, and with a thought, two “blood cores” materialized on his shoulders. His “blood barrier” thickened, its surface etched with intricate patterns, expanded in an instant. Ordinarily, the sticky webs would adhere to any defense, but Ryan’s enhanced “blood barrier” was not ordinary. As the spider silk made contact, the barrier’s forceful shock repelled the webs, bouncing them off before they could ensnare him, giving Ryan a crucial edge as he prepared to counter this complex threat.

As Ryan stood at the heart of the maelstrom, the spider silk swirling through the air shifted from a pristine white to an ominous red, the hue intensifying rapidly. The resulting explosions thundered through the cave, so forceful that several stalactites were dislodged, crashing down to embed themselves deeply into the ground.

Caught in the epicenter of the blasts, Ryan witnessed one of his “blood cores” fade in vibrancy, a grim indication of its waning strength.

“So powerful!”

A wave of apprehension swept through Ryan. He had underestimated the dark red guard spiders due to their small size compared to the more formidable species. He hadn’t anticipated such lethal prowess. Being ambushed by these creatures while engaging the Princess Blazing Spider would surely spell disaster.

“I need to eliminate these smaller threats first!”

Seizing the moment, Ryan darted to the side as smoke and Blazings clouded the guard spiders’ sight. Staying at the center of their encirclement would make him an easy target. He needed to disrupt their formation to stand any chance of overcoming them.

However, just as he broke from the circle, a swift whooshing sound sliced through the air, rapidly closing in on him. The smoke obscured Ryan’s vision too, but by the time he detected the incoming threat, it was nearly upon him.

A massive tangle of spider silk, thick as a human arm, struck his “blood barrier” forcefully, dimming the glow of another “blood core.”

The barrier failed, and the spider silk mass was deflected to the ground, where it quickly formed into an elliptical “cocoon.” Almost immediately, the cocoon’s color shifted to red, and it detonated with violent force, the shockwave blasting against Ryan’s face.

Ryan’s eyes then caught sight of the Princess Blazing Spider in the distance. In a flash of insight, he realized how the spider had pinpointed his location despite the visual chaos, the network of spider silk lining the cave acted as the creature’s sensory organ, transmitting every vibration directly to the Princess Blazing Spider.

Cornered and momentarily halted by the Princess Blazing Spider’s maneuvers, Ryan found himself ensnared once again as the piercing “squeak” of the Princess Blazing Spider summoned the guard spiders back to encircle him.

The stakes were dire.

His “Blood Core” was spent. Without sufficient time to regenerate “blood energy,” and the minimum required to activate another “Blood Core” beyond reach, Ryan’s situation grew increasingly perilous.

Surrounded, the Guardian Spiders poised to launch another volley of silk, and the Princess Blazing Spider advancing menacingly towards him, Ryan faced a critical moment. The danger was immense, and his options were dwindling rapidly.

The cave’s guardians, a horde of menacing guard spiders, encircled him, their abdomens pulsating as they unleashed torrents of spider silk. This was no ordinary silk; each strand was imbued with an explosive toughness, capable of shattering stalactites into shards with mere shockwaves.

Ryan stood encased in thousands of these deadly threads. Nearby, the Princess Blazing Spider loomed, its dark mouthparts frothing in anticipation of an attack. Despite the peril, Ryan’s eyes remained a calm pool of resolve.

Inhaling deeply, he hoisted his greatsword and unleashed the [Special Sword Skill – Defensive Charge]. Just as a strand was about to ensnare him, a surge of faint blood light erupted, temporarily dispersing the silk. Yet, more silk loomed behind it, and the protective “dominant blood membrane” his body conjured was fleeting, offering him scant refuge.

With a guttural roar, Ryan sent out a wave of spiritual sound that momentarily halted the advancing silk. This pause allowed him to harness his blood and energy, propelling him into a powerful charge. His blade slammed into the rocky floor.

“Boom!”

The ground shuddered, cracks racing across the cave as smoke and debris rose, forming a barrier against the encroaching silk. Amidst the settling dust, Ryan’s hands glowed crimson, materializing two blood-red spiral spears.

Though he was now moderately injured, his blood energy had peaked at 100, allowing him to form two basic “Blood Spears.” These weapons, while not strong enough to confront the Princess Blazing Spider directly, were perfectly suited for the red guard spiders.