Zev returned to the cave he had originally intended to explore. If his memory served him right, a particular creature resided here—one ideal for testing his [Manifestation] skill. This ability allowed him to absorb the unique traits of a creature, granting him new strength.
He had been in this cave before, in a previous life. Encountering the Metallic Spider was merely a step in his broader plan. His true goal was to retrieve a powerful item hidden deep within these caverns.
Plok!
The cave was eerily silent. The only sound was the faint drip of water hitting the stone floor. Despite its unassuming entrance, the interior was vast—far more spacious than anyone might expect from the outside.
Zev had finally reached his destination. A malicious smile curled on his lips as he laid eyes on the creature before him. Towering nearby was a being as large as a truck, its entire body forged from gleaming metal. The surrounding area was draped in thick webs, each strand glinting with the same metallic sheen as the creature itself.
Long ago, Zev had stumbled into this very cave by accident while fleeing from other students. It was then that he first encountered the Metallic Spider—a near-fatal experience. He barely managed to escape with his life.
Swish!
Without hesitation, Zev unsheathed his sword, his fierce eyes locked onto the monster.
"This time," he muttered, "our encounter will be different."
Swoosh!
He dashed toward the beast, weaving through the web-strewn obstacles with razor-sharp precision. His movements were fluid, each step a reflection of his growing familiarity with his enhanced body.
As a spider, the creature possessed heightened senses—it had already detected the intruder within its territory. Letting out a guttural screech, it launched a strand of metallic web straight at Zev.
Zev didn't bother trying to deflect it with his sword; he knew too well that doing so would only cause the web to expand and trap him. Instead, he activated his Dark Aura, a skill that surged through him and amplified his speed. In a blink, he dodged the attack and closed the distance between them without a hitch.
Swish!
He swung his sword with all his might—but the blade bounced off with a metallic clang. Just as he expected, his strike couldn't pierce the monster's armor-like body.
Even so, Zev smirked and took two steps back, his eyes locked onto the creature's glowing red gaze. The monster was ready to kill him at any moment.
Boom!
Despite its massive size, the spider lunged forward with startling speed, aiming to skewer him with its sharp limbs and slam him against the cave wall. But Zev had already anticipated the move. He slipped out of range with a swift dodge.
His movements were so fast, so precise, that the spider struggled to track him. Without its heightened senses, it would have been impossible to follow Zev's rapid steps with mere sight alone.
"I can't keep up this speed for long. I need to end this quickly," Zev muttered to himself.
He knew exactly how far he could push his body in a fight like this. If the monster managed to land even a single blow, the consequences could be devastating—his body might not withstand the impact.
Zev and the Metallic Spider had been clashing for several minutes. The monster remained virtually unscathed, while Zev was already feeling the strain. His arms were numb, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him. Worse still, his spiritual energy was slowly being drained with each passing second.
He knew of only two ways to kill the creature. The first: flip it over and strike its vulnerable underside. The second: land a direct, forceful blow strong enough to shatter its metal body.
Boom!
While still strategizing how to bring down the monster, Zev failed to notice one of its limbs already swinging toward him.
[Feather Armor]
In an instant, he activated his defensive skill. His entire body darkened, transforming into sleek, feather-like armor that shimmered like a crow's plumage. He crossed his arms just in time, bracing for impact.
Thud!
The monstrous limb slammed into him. Though he managed to block the strike, the sheer force launched him across the cave, slamming him into the wall with bone-rattling impact. The blow was so powerful it left a human-shaped imprint on the stone.
The metallic feathers of his armor disintegrated in the blink of an eye. Zev dropped to the ground, coughing up blood, his vision blurring from the shock.
"I'm careless," Zev muttered. Despite the pain coursing through his body, his face remained expressionless. He acknowledged his mistake without hesitation. "I shouldn't have underestimated my opponent. My bad."
With those words, he spat out the remaining blood in his mouth. In the next instant, his aura shifted thick, oppressive, and far more intense than before. He was no longer holding back.
Swoosh!
Zev charged toward the monster without a moment's hesitation. The spider reacted immediately, lashing out with its limbs to intercept him.
"That won't work."
He activated [Feather Armor] again, but this time only on his knees. Using the reinforced limbs to anchor his movement, Zev dropped low and slid across the ground with blistering speed, darting beneath the monster's attacks and closing the gap aiming straight for its vulnerable underside.
As soon as Zev reached the weak spot, he sprang to his feet and drove his sword into the monster with all his strength and spiritual energy. Unlike its hardened outer shell, the flesh beneath was soft—vulnerable. His blade pierced deep into the creature, and the spider let out a deafening shriek, its scream echoing throughout the cave.
Swoosh!
Realizing its weakness had been exposed, the spider leapt back, trying to put distance between itself and Zev. But Zev was already in motion. He launched himself forward, closing the gap midair and striking again.
A spray of green blood splattered across his face, but he didn't flinch. He continued his relentless assault, slashing through the monster's body without pause. The spider tried to summon a web to defend itself, but Zev gave it no opportunity—his attacks were too fast, too furious, overwhelming the creature before it could react.
"I already said it—this time will be different."
To end the battle, Zev summoned every last ounce of strength in his body. He had known from the start: to kill this monster, he would have to give it everything he had.
His aura surged, growing denser and more intense with each breath. When he reached his limit, he launched himself at the monster one final time.
Crimson Slash!
His blade tore through the creature, carving a glowing X across its body.
Thud!
Both Zev and the spider collapsed. The monster let out one final, agonized scream before its life flickered out.
Zev coughed, then pushed himself upright into a seated position, his face shadowed by exhaustion.
"This isn't enough... I'm still too weak," he muttered, eyes burning with quiet resolve.
Huff... Huff... Huff...
He couldn't deny that fighting the monster had drained every ounce of his strength. Gasping for breath, Zev stared at the lifeless creature before him. Its green blood pooled on the cave floor, slowly spreading across the rocky surface.
Several minutes passed. Gradually, Zev felt some of his energy returning. He pushed himself up and approached the fallen monster. Suddenly, a glowing screen appeared before his eyes.
[You have met the requirement. Would you like to use your Manifestation skill?]
"One of the reasons I came here was to hunt this monster and acquire one of its skills. So why..." Zev whispered to himself, eyes fixed on his trembling hand. "Why am I afraid?"
He took a deep breath and cleared his mind. Nothing would change if he let fear control him. Every action had its consequences, and he had to be ready to face them.
At that moment, Zev smiled faintly and placed his hand firmly on the spider's lifeless body. Then, he whispered a single word—"Yes."
Suddenly, the spider's corpse trembled as if awakening, its metallic shell shifting. A glowing green liquid began to seep forth, shimmering like liquid emerald, and slowly crept toward Zev's hand.
At first, everything seemed normal. But the moment the liquid seeped beneath his skin, his veins ignited with a radiant glow. The strange substance coursed through his body like wildfire.
A sharp, agonizing pain exploded within him, forcing a low groan from his lips. It felt as though countless knives were piercing his flesh, stabbing relentlessly from the inside out.
His eyes rolled back, turning ghostly white, while thick foam began to bubble at the corners of his mouth.
"W-what the hell is this pain?" Zev gasped, fighting desperately to stay conscious. "This… this is too much."
His veins throbbed violently, bursting beneath his skin. A roaring pressure exploded in his ears—blood trickled from them. His bones twisted painfully, and his muscles slackened uncontrollably.
"Am I… going to die?"
He dropped to his knees, smashing his fists against the ground, unable to bear the relentless agony coursing through his body. A flood of chaotic thoughts overwhelmed him.
Is it too much to ask for more strength?
Those were the last words he managed before darkness swallowed him whole.