The night did not go as Tyrin had expected. The giant spiders had noticed his presence, but they didn't dare enter the ground where he and Karma were—as if they feared some invisible punishment. Even the larger creature, after a few hours, seemed to lose interest and backed off. Their constant hunger kept these creatures ever watchful, but waiting passively for prey wasn't in their nature. Still, Tyrin remained alert the entire time.
"Well, Karma… According to the map, we'll have to cross this area heading west. That means going through the territory of these creatures."
As he spoke, Tyrin was mentally analyzing the best way to deal with the threat. He had accurate information about the spiders' behavior, but knew little about their combat capabilities.
"If I can get a close look at one, I can analyze its status and use that as a reference."
To do that, he needed to focus directly on the creature, but that kind of observation seemed to irritate them—which made sense, considering they were ambush predators. Tyrin knew that if he wanted the information, he'd have to risk a confrontation near the safe zone.
"We can lure one close and fight. If we get its body, I'll be able to analyze its strength. And if anything goes wrong, we retreat. What do you think, Karma?"
Karma responded with a low, eager growl. Of course, there was an easier solution: simply flying over the enemy territory. But Tyrin knew that the winged beings there made the spiders seem harmless by comparison.
"Let's move forward carefully, trying to attract as few enemies as possible."
They waited for what could be considered "daytime" in that strange and dark place, then began moving among the trees. Tyrin was surprised to notice that, although the trees were menacing, they seemed to allow the spiders to build their webs beneath their canopies. He theorized there was some kind of symbiosis—perhaps one creature fed on blood and the other on flesh, and this exchange made the spiders' presence tolerable to the trees.
"Karma, watch your tail… You're swinging it too close to the webs."
Tyrin noticed the dragon still hadn't mastered control over his tail—which had already caused many accidents, especially in the library with Gertrudes. But this was definitely not the time for a mishap.
"Pfffffff…"
Karma growled toward a denser area of the forest, where darkness was nearly absolute and the webs blocked out all light. Tyrin followed his gaze and saw the oppressive void ahead.
"Wait, Karma. I have an idea."
They stopped at a safe distance, and Tyrin took advantage of the sepulchral silence to use his analysis skill. Even without a clear view, if he could aim correctly, the creature's status would appear. He kept his focus until, finally, he got what he wanted:
🌀 Vampire Spider Hatchling 🌀
Level: 32
Classification: B
Strength: 20
Endurance: 25
Speed: 97
Skill: 20
Psyche: N/A
He managed to spot five spiders hidden among the canopies, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. It was clear they had already noticed the two of them.
"There are five, Karma. All in the trees, waiting to jump as we cross that section. Let's try to lure them into a more open area."
Tyrin and Karma began circling the dark region, but quickly realized the creatures wouldn't let their prey escape. The spiders started moving, leaving their positions and following the trail of the human and the dragon.
"When they're lined up… use Incendium. Wait for my signal."
They continued walking with apparent ease, pretending to ignore the looming danger. After a few minutes, an opportunity presented itself.
"Now, Karma! Use your skill… on me!"
Tyrin knew the spiders saw him as the weakest link, which made Karma's job easier. When the flames came down on him, Tyrin leapt aside at the last instant—and right where he'd been standing, five scorched bodies fell from above.
"Excellent, Karma. Now let's grab the stone and get back to a safe place."
The moment Tyrin spoke, a deafening scream echoed from the north. It was a sound filled with sorrow and hatred, slicing through the air like an invisible blade. Tyrin already suspected: the creature had realized what had happened. But how could it know its offspring were dead? What kind of connection was that? Not even he fully understood it, but one thing was certain—they couldn't be there when that beast arrived. The ground was already starting to tremble beneath their feet.
"We need to get out of here. Now, Karma!"
Without hesitation, Tyrin climbed onto the dragon's back, and the two of them shot off toward the safe zone. They arrived just in time to hear the sound of multiple spiders and, in the distance, to catch a glimpse of the massive creature he had seen the day before. This time, Tyrin used the creature's obvious rage—as it twisted furiously, grinding its fangs at the edge of the safe zone—to analyze its status:
🌀 Vampire Spider Matriarch 🌀
Level: 189
Classification: A
Strength: 300
Endurance: 340
Speed: 130
Skill: 99
Psyche: N/A
Tyrin was shocked by those numbers. They were vastly superior to the smaller spiders'.
"She probably has some kind of exponential stat growth... Or maybe she went through a form of encapsulation."
He'd read about monsters in Gargantua that went into hibernation, encasing themselves or hiding for months. It was a common vulnerability and often exploited by enemies. However, if successful, the process granted a significant power boost. Most monsters remained in their territories, guarding them fiercely, waiting for the chance to reach that same stage—something that spider had clearly achieved.
"Karma, we don't stand a chance against her. Especially with the hatchlings nearby."
Hours passed, and Tyrin noticed the creature never left the edge of the safe zone. It was waiting. Only on the second day did it withdraw, crying as it moved deeper into the forest. Tyrin didn't miss the detail.
"Lucky I brought some food... But now I need to find something for you, Karma."
His dragon seemed fine, but Tyrin knew that lack of proper nourishment would eventually take its toll. He had managed to pick up one of the stones left behind by the defeated enemies, but the energy inside was weak, almost useless—even he could feel that.
"Let's try heading in the opposite direction of the next known point... I mean, the path the spiders were fleeing from. Maybe we'll find something to replenish our energy—especially yours."
On the map, Tyrin identified a safe zone in that direction. It was far, and the unknown force that had caused the spiders to retreat was the main reason for his initial hesitation. However, waiting around to die of starvation wasn't an option. If he was going to die, it would be fighting.
"I have no idea what we'll find there. So let's stay alert for anything."
"Hupffff…" Karma replied with a soft snort.
Nearly twelve hours of silent marching passed before they spotted the first creature. The good news: it was herbivorous. The bad: extremely territorial.
"Black Plated Beasts… Now I understand why the spiders ran."
The creatures looked like enormous bison, with black armor as dark as obsidian covering their entire bodies. Despite being vegetarians, they were like walking tanks: tough, explosive, and ruthless to any intruders. They drew their strength from the trees and plants of Gargantua, which were already powerful energy sources on their own. Unfortunately, that energy wasn't useful to feed Karma.
"Okay… They have a soft spot on their bellies—that's the weak point. But they move in herds and stay close to each other. It won't be easy to take one down without alerting the others. I hate to say it, but… we'll need to circle around or find a chance to isolate one."
Tyrin was finally starting to understand the harsh reality of Gargantua: the monsters that roamed alone were too strong for him, and the ones within his reach always traveled in large, cohesive groups. The only viable strategy would be to isolate a target—and if that wasn't possible, to find a different prey.
Night had already fallen when, finally, an opportunity presented itself.
"Karma, you see that one over there, away from the group? Must be too old to keep up with the others."
Karma was drooling, eyes locked onto the isolated creature. But before he could take a step forward, Tyrin held him back. The dragon stared at him, confused, finding a serious and focused expression on Tyrin's face.
"I don't think we're the only ones who noticed this opportunity."
🌀 Panthera Pardus 🌀
Level: 120
Classification: B+
Strength: 87
Endurance: 59
Speed: 100
Skill: 120
Psyche: 30
At the top of a tree, partially hidden by darkness, Tyrin managed to spot the status of a second animal. He couldn't make out its shape clearly, but he could feel its presence—silent, stealthy. There was something magical about its concealment.
"There's a creature approaching our target. It's using some kind of invisibility or light distortion. Let's wait… Let it attack first. Then we deal with the winner."
Tyrin was almost certain the predator used magic—likely specializing in ambushes. And even for a stealthy creature, taking down a plated beast wasn't easy. Watching the attack would allow him to gauge its true power—and maybe identify other abilities besides invisibility.
The creature leapt from the shadows, but instead of going straight for the kill, it landed in front of the armored bison, startling the large beast.
"…That doesn't make sense. Why would it do that?"
Tyrin was confused. Why reveal itself instead of going straight for the weak spot? But soon, everything became clear. After a few warning sounds, the bison simply stopped moving. When the panther bit into its neck, it didn't resist.
"I get it… It has some kind of trance or illusion ability. Probably needs direct eye contact to trigger—and can't do it from a distance. Now's our chance."
With the panther distracted, fully focused on devouring its prey's exposed throat, Tyrin and Karma crept closer in silence. The scent of fresh blood filled the air. The panther's muscles rippled beneath its black fur like shadows in motion. It tore into the flesh with its teeth in predatory ecstasy, unaware of the danger closing in.
Then, at the perfect moment, Karma dove with a sudden flap of his wings—the sound slicing through the forest like thunder.
The panther leapt back, startled, letting out a roar of fury and surprise. But it was too late. Tyrin, already in position, lunged with precision and drove his dagger directly into the creature's left eye, cutting off any chance of a magical response.
The panther's howl of pain echoed through the forest. Staggering, its vision compromised and bleeding heavily, it instinctively tried to retreat into the shadows. But Karma was faster. With a brutal motion, he sank his fangs into its neck and snapped it with a sharp, dry crack.
"Damn… I was hoping we'd make less noise. Let's hope that didn't attract company."
Tyrin scanned the surroundings, activating his perception skill. No signs of enemies nearby. Luckily, the forest remained silent—for now.
After nearly three days, Karma finally had a proper meal. The dragon tore into the meat with satisfaction, devouring it eagerly.
"Well… According to the map, we're still not even halfway. Tomorrow's going to be critical. We'll be far from any safe zone. You know what that means, right?"
Tyrin looked over at Karma, but the dragon was far too focused on ripping the panther's ribs apart to care about his complaints.
"Okay, okay. Talking to you right now is pointless anyway…"
Tyrin let out a tired sigh and opened his menu.
"Well… At least I managed to level up three times so far. Now… what would be good to upgrade?"