Chapter 157: Hunting (3)

Trailing closely behind Rosty, Veil dashed swiftly through the dense forest. The dim light filtering through the canopy revealed faint, silken strands of pale green light entwining his body. Time seemed to blur until those delicate green glimmers began to fade, causing Veil’s momentum to falter and gradually slow to a halt.

“Such rapid consumption…” Veil murmured inwardly, eyes gently closing as he summoned his senses to survey the vast ocean of his consciousness. He found his reserves of wind magic had nearly depleted.

To keep pace with Rosty’s stride, Veil had cast a wind-attribute enhancement spell on himself from the outset. Though not a high-level enchantment within wind magic, its prolonged use drained his modest wind magic reserves considerably.

Ahead, Rosty noticed Veil’s sudden pause and swiftly approached. “What’s wrong, Veil? Something happened?”

“My magic is burning out too quickly. I can barely keep up.”

Veil exhaled heavily, replying candidly. Surprised that Veil had lasted this long at all, Rosty glanced around, comparing the surroundings with his memory and estimating the elapsed time. “In that case, let’s rest here for a moment. I recall there’s a spider’s lair nearby—home to a fifth-tier Poison Wolf Spider. Those creatures are masters at setting traps around their nests, so there’s no rush. We can take our time crossing this stretch.”

“Alright,” Veil nodded. Whether Rosty’s words were truth or a comfort, he cared little. Yet, he made a mental note of the fifth-tier Poison Wolf Spider. If memory served, this beast wielded dual dark and wind attributes.

A fifth-tier alone shouldn’t pose too much trouble.

Veil pondered quietly. Outwardly, he and Rosty replenished their food and water while chatting casually. Veil casually inquired about the Poison Wolf Spider. Rosty, an open and trusting comrade, unwittingly divulged all he knew about the creature.

With this knowledge in hand, Veil lightly clapped his hands, rising from the ground. He told Rosty he wished to gather magical plants useful to him nearby. Rosty hesitated at first but calmed when Veil insisted he’d stay close. Though young, Veil was remarkably seasoned for his age. Compared to him, Rosty worried far more about Pipero wandering alone in these woods.

Following Rosty’s directions, Veil soon found the spider’s lair nestled within a thicket enshrouded in webs. The cavern was vast and black enough to swallow three or four burly men at once. Veil did not rush in but carefully extended his perception, circling the area cautiously. Just as Rosty had said, the Poison Wolf Spider was cunning, adept at hiding numerous traps near its nest to ensnare prey.

“One, two, three…” Veil counted as he surveyed every hidden trap. In total, over twenty were cleverly concealed. Destroying them outright was impossible; like other arachnids, the enemy would instantly detect disturbance upon touching their webs, alerting the spider. Still, Veil would not allow these traps to remain intact.

Removing the staff from his back, Veil focused his mind, setting the currents of his consciousness in motion. Holding the staff, he gently waved it, conjuring strange, intricate magical patterns in the air.

Creating distant magical sigils was one of Veil’s specialties. He not only placed protective arrays at strategic spots for combat but also set them precisely where the Poison Wolf Spider’s traps lay. Each array combined two elements: light and ice.

As known, the Poison Wolf Spider bore dark and wind attributes. Veil’s choice was deliberate—ice to counter the spider’s wind attacks, and light to negate its dark powers.

Though a mere fifth-tier mid-level beast, successfully slaying it would surely enhance Veil’s own wind and dark magic.

Just as Veil gripped his staff, ready to act, a sudden unease crept over him. He had thoroughly observed the pitch-black cavern and cautiously scanned its perimeter but detected no immediate threat. Yet, something felt amiss.

Measuring the cave’s mouth with his hand, a serious expression darkened his face.

Rosty’s knowledge of the Poison Wolf Spider came from years as a mercenary, but Veil, as a mage, had to master the habits and traits of all manner of magical beasts. He was well acquainted with the Poison Wolf Spider—a massive creature resembling a strong horse with the speed of a howling wolf and venomous fangs, hence its name.

Its lifespan spanned three stages: juvenile, growth, and prime. Juvenile spiders were already enormous, ranking fourth to fifth tier—mid-level beasts. In growth, their size increased by a third, becoming medium beasts, with strength between sixth and eighth tier—advanced monsters. Primes were large beasts above ninth tier, but exceedingly rare; among tens of thousands of Poison Wolf Spiders, only a few reached this stage.

However, this lair’s entrance exceeded three meters wide. Even conservatively, the resident spider must be sixth or seventh tier—a growth-stage advanced beast.

Veil groaned, troubled. Facing such a foe alone in his current state would be tough. He decided swift retreat was imperative.

Yet just then, a violent commotion erupted from within the cave. Before Veil could react, a colossal form suddenly burst forth from the shadows of the entrance!