—Switch!
Yuiha finished the last strike of her skill just as Silver crashed in with a brutal shield charge. The impact knocked the Stone Widow, a giant spider over three meters long and two tall, back a full meter and left it stunned.
A short girl with violet eyes and chin-length gray hair surged forward and brought down a vicious blow with her buster sword, executing the enemy without hesitation.
She let out a breath as she wiped sweat from her neck with her sleeve.
The sight was almost comical: the sword was bigger than she was. And yet she handled it as naturally as Silver swung his one-handed blade… on the rare occasions he still used it these days.
—Nice hit, Blossom —Yuiha said.
—Thanks, Yuiha —the girl replied.
Blossom was pure energy. And despite her small frame, completely against logic, she’d built for strength first, then agility. They’d met her the day before, during the raid on the Floor 33 boss. For safety reasons, the assault required everyone to form parties.
It was Blossom’s first time on the front line, and her size made a lot of players look at her with suspicion.
Yuiha had been the only one willing to give her a spot.
And Blossom hadn’t disappointed.
Yuiha and Silver’s party had always followed a single combat rhythm; simple, but solid: Silver held enemies in place while Yuiha cut them down one by one.
Adding Blossom brought an unexpected advantage. Her hits were so heavy she could stop charges with relative ease, which allowed Silver to lean into a more offensive role. They cleared mobs faster… and more importantly, safer.
—How much longer until we finish mapping this dungeon? —Silver asked.
—We’ve covered a lot, but we haven’t seen a single elite yet —Yuiha replied.— Let’s backtrack and try different routes.
Before they moved, a notification popped up in front of Silver.
Silver looked up and raised both eyebrows.
—Seriously? I told you; I don’t do PvP.
—Come on, Silver. Just one hit —Blossom grinned.— It’s not like I can kill you. Not even a floor boss can.
Silver declined. Blossom pulled an annoyed face.
Yuiha stepped closer to her.
—Don’t hassle him. Silver doesn’t enjoy fighting.
—But he’s one of the strongest on the front line —Blossom shot back.
—He is. But he’s strongest at protecting. Don’t try to force him into something he hates.
—Tch…
They walked another twenty minutes before reaching a different chamber sealed by a large door.
It was the floor’s mini-boss room.
—Should we take it? —Silver asked.
—Obviously! —Blossom said, throwing the doors open without waiting.
Yuiha and Silver exchanged a look and let out the same resigned smile.
The kid was, in truth, a fight addict.
The Demonic Silk Spider filled nearly half the chamber’s width. Its body, over five meters long, rose on eight angular legs that lifted it above three meters high, forcing anyone to look up.
It didn’t move like a frantic beast. It moved with measured slowness, each joint extending and folding with mechanical precision.
Its dark, matte exoskeleton seemed to swallow what little light there was. Uneven plates layered its body, dampness pooling between seams, giving it a heavy, almost stone-like presence. Its swollen abdomen, angled back, flexed each time it produced silk.
The threads weren’t white or translucent. They were thick, opaque, a sooty gray-black; hanging from the ceiling like wet cables. Some stretched wall to wall; others drooped low enough to brush the stagnant water on the ground. They didn’t quiver at random. They reacted to movement.
Its head sat low and compact, almost hidden beneath the thorax. Its many small eyes didn’t glow. They watched without emotion; calculating lines of approach.
—I’ve seen ugly bugs… but this thing… —Blossom muttered.
—Is this part of the world’s beauty too? —Silver asked, glancing at Yuiha.
—I’m not an arachnid enthusiast —she replied flatly.
The one good sign: it didn’t seem to summon reinforcements.
The fight opened with Silver drawing aggro through basic attacks. He wasn’t doing real damage, but it was enough.
The spider lifted its front legs and slammed down hard. The Aegis absorbed the blows without trouble.
—Now!
Yuiha cut in from the flank with a five-hit skill using Coral Edge. Blossom took a reckless leap and brought down Avalanche.
—Switch!
Silver didn’t hesitate.
Demon Hunter.
He unleashed a seven-hit skill. The effect ignored 50% of defense against demonic enemies. Apparently, the spider qualified.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The creature skittered back and leapt onto a wall. From there, it began firing webs like a cannon.
Yuiha and Blossom dodged easily. Silver didn’t; two impacts caught him, one on the Aegis and one around his leg.
The spider yanked the strand violently.
Blossom reacted instantly, slicing the web tied to his leg. Silver cursed and let his shield drop.
—Relax —Yuiha said.— It’s event-bound. You won’t lose ownership.
Silver knew.
What bothered him was the fact that the monster had dared to take it from him.
—Blossom, can you keep it busy? —he asked.
—Thirty seconds. Maybe.
—That’s enough.
Silver sheathed his sword and drew his broadsword instead. Lizbeth had reforged it recently.
Time to see what it could do.
The spider launched off the wall. Blossom met it with a horizontal strike that stopped it dead.
Demon Crusher.
The broadsword flared with light and hammered out four rising, crossing blows. The exoskeleton cracked. The health bar dropped into yellow.
Blossom and Yuiha tore into it mercilessly. Silver recovered the Aegis and resumed holding the line.
Light Rush.
Yuiha executed a ten-hit burst. Coral Edge’s effect made the damage vicious.
The Demonic Silk Spider exploded into fragments of light. All three received the reward notification: experience, col, and materials.
Yuiha opened her inventory and pulled out a weapon.
A black sword that seemed to drink in light. Long, with a massive edge and a serrated spine like a saw. Barbs ran backward along the metal;built to tear.
—That design freaks me out —Yuiha admitted.
—What does the description say? —Silver asked.
The weapon window was encrypted. They’d need a blacksmith or merchant to appraise it.
—Let’s go! —Blossom blurted.— I want to know exactly what that thing is.
* * * * *
August 21, 2023. 6:18 p.m. — Stonecross, Floor 20
Yuiha, Blossom, and Silver headed toward Liz’s forge.
Silver had learned to enjoy the moments alone with Yuiha. Over their journey, they’d formed parties with other players for specific quests or rare situations; but once they returned to a safe zone, everyone usually split off.
This time, Blossom kept walking with them, chatting brightly with Yuiha while Silver shot her irritated looks.
—Am I bothering you? —the girl asked, with an innocence that was just a bit too convincing.
—Of course not —Yuiha replied with a smile.
Silver felt that answer like a direct kick to the gut.
—Perfect —Blossom beamed.— I was going to back off because of the way Silver keeps staring at me, but if you say I’m not a bother… I’ll stay.
Yuiha turned and gave her husband a disapproving look.
—Don’t be rude.
Silver lowered his gaze, defeated.
At the forge, Yuiha greeted the NPC at the counter.
—Hi, Hellen. Is Liz here?
—No, the boss went out gathering materials —the young woman said with a smile.— She said she probably won’t be back until tomorrow.
The three exchanged looks.
—we can ask Egil to appraise it —Yuiha suggested.
—And while we’re at it, he can try to buy it for half its value —Silver added with a crooked smile.
Yuiha smiled. She knew Egil’s reputation for low offers, but she also knew why: he sold decent gear at affordable prices for lower-level players.
When they reached the huge merchant’s shop, it was closed.
—Great… —Yuiha sighed, exhausted.
—There’s another shop over there —Blossom said, pointing to a sign on the next street.
They went in and were greeted by a friendly-looking player.
—How can I help you?
—We need this weapon appraised —Yuiha said, pulling it from her inventory.
The merchant took it, awed, turning it slowly before activating his appraisal skill.
—It’s beautiful… —he murmured.
When the appraisal completed, his eyes went wide.
Soul Slayer
Rarity: Epic
Type: Two-handed sword
Effect: Ignores the opposing player’s defense.
Critical damage vs players +20%
Yuiha’s face tightened.
—A weapon… against players? —she asked, disbelief in her voice.
—Yes —the merchant said.— Extremely rare. Very few people even know they exist. You’re very lucky, miss.
Yuiha didn’t feel lucky at all.
Blossom, meanwhile, stared at the sword like it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
—Would you like to sell it? —the merchant asked.— I can offer one hundred fifty thousand col.
Silver stared, stunned. Even on their current floors, saving that amount would take months.
—I’m sorry. It’s not for sale —Yuiha said firmly.
—Two hundred thousand.
—I’m sorry.
Yuiha took the weapon back and stored it.
—Three hundred thousand col! —the merchant shouted one last time.
She walked out without answering. Silver and Blossom followed.
—We could’ve bought a house on the lower floors with that —Silver muttered bitterly.
—I’m sorry —Yuiha said, meeting his eyes.— But selling that sword means putting it in someone’s hands; someone who might use it to hurt other people. I couldn’t live with that.
Silver felt his throat tighten.
—You’re right —he said.— I let greed get to me. That sword is dangerous.
Blossom broke the moment.
—You sure you don’t want to sell it? I don’t have that kind of money, but I could get it.
—Sorry, Blossom —Yuiha replied with a tired smile.— The safest place for that weapon is my inventory.
Blossom shrugged.
—Figured you’d say no. Can’t blame me for trying.
She opened her menu and left the party.
—Take care. Maybe I’ll see you around.
She walked off, waving goodbye.
Yuiha looked back at Silver.
—So we can’t buy a house yet —she teased.
—Doesn’t matter —he said seriously.— I just need a lot of trees to chop… and time to level my building skill.
Yuiha burst out laughing so hard she had to cover her mouth.
—I love you.
—I love you —he replied, kissing her softly.
* * * * *
August 21, 2023. 8:04 p.m. — Moon Valley, Floor 29
—AAAGGH!
The scream tore through the dusk’s silence.
Three players were surrounded by several hooded figures. Two of the victims were missing a hand. The third still held his sword, though his arm shook violently.
Orange cursors above the attackers’ heads made it clear: dangerous players.
—What do you want? —the last one asked, voice breaking.
—What do we want? —one of them repeated behind a mask.— Same as everyone. To enjoy the game.
They’d tried to escape with teleport crystals, but the casting seconds were enough for the attackers to sever a hand and cancel the jump.
—Boss, message from Stonecross —one of the hooded men reported.
The tallest of them turned his head, while casually decapitating one of the players with a massive butcher knife.
—Oh yeah? —he asked calmly.— What does it say?
—A weapon showed up. Even better than the Mate Chopper.
The knife froze midair.
—Seriously?
—Yeah. But the player refused to sell.
The boss smiled.
—Then we’ll have to negotiate in person.
He lifted his arm, and the sleeve of his robe slid back just enough to reveal a black tattoo: a coffin with arms and a grotesque grin.
—It’s showtime.
One by one, the screams died out in the valley.