Book 11: Chapter 34: Escape

Rustle, rustle, rustle! If not for Lago’s warning, these sounds exactly like shifting sand would have easily slipped past everyone. But as the surroundings grew utterly quiet, not just the rogue, but the others heard the unsettling noises too.

Tension filled their faces once more. They had faced too much danger these past few days; no one dared hope for simple luck now. Qin Lun focused his Staring Aura, his Perception beam narrowing into a fine line as his left eye, marked by the Yin-Yang Fish Pattern, swept the area. He scanned intently.

“It’s not just the cavern ceiling,” Qin Lun muttered, his expression grave. “This entire area’s walls are riddled with holes.” His gaze suddenly snapped into focus. “Wait… I see something! Spiders! Spiders the size of fists… so many of them. Front, back, above, below… we seem surrounded.”

“That’s it. Eight-Eyed Spiders. They love environments like this.” Mastashia sighed, shaking her head. “I encountered them once before in a cave in the Northlands. Never thought I’d live to see them again.”

“A massive swarm?” Rick and Winnie exchanged surprised glances. “But why didn’t we see any webs on the way?”

“Eight-Eyed Spiders are freaks among their kind. They can spin silk, yet they weave no webs.” The Highland Elf pulled a strange face. “Unlike most spiders, they live communally and rely on numbers to hunt. Their silk strands are incredibly tough, as strong as steel wire, and coated with a powerfully adhesive slime. Be careful later; don’t let too much of that silk cling to you.”

“Can these…Eight-Eyed Spiders use innate magic?” Hill asked cautiously.

“No. They’re not magical beasts. They wield no magic.” Mastashia watched the collective sigh of relief with a wry smile. “Don’t underestimate them! These creatures have sharp fangs capable of slicing through metal. Master jumpers. Combined with their steel-like sticky silk, their combat power rivals those Dragonflies we encountered before. Without the Dragonflies’ elemental aura, true, but their numbers… easily ten times greater.”

“…And the terrain here plays against us,” Qin Lun cut in sharply, eyes alert. “We’re basically trapped inside their nest, surrounded on almost every side except below.”

“Do we push forward or retreat?” Lago asked gravely.

“Forward!” Mastashia’s voice held absolute certainty. “While lacking sentience, their predatory instincts are strong. They build their nests within the wall holes and typically let prey advance deep into the heart of the cavern before converging from all sides. Put simply? The distance forward or back is identical.”

Understanding dawned on them. Retreating would only bring them back to the lake ruled by the Ghostface Squid, forcing them to seek another canyon into Troll Claw. Stuck with the same distance regardless, it made much more sense to press ahead, the only real risk being inadvertently rushing into a dead-end within the cave system.

“Eight-Eyed Spiders are named for the four pairs of simple eyes on their backs. Their vision is excellent, covering great distances even in this near-darkness. Stealth won’t work; this time, we fight our way clear.” Mastashia finished urgently as time ticked. “Luckily, spending their lives in these lightless caves means one thing: they fear fire and bright light. If the path gets clogged with spiders, Winnie and Rand, make yourselves useful with magics to disperse them.”

“Understood!” Winnie and Rand answered in unison.

With preparation complete, the group charged forward. Qin Lun surged ahead, relying on his scouting skills to map the path for others. Winnie and Rand, the fire-wielding pair, positioned themselves at each end of the group. Rick brought up the rear, guarding their flank.

Thud! Qin Lun’s fist smashed a lunging Eight-Eyed Spider flat onto the rock face.

Perhaps due to an absence of predators down here, this tennis ball-sized cave spider lacked hardened outer shells. Taking a direct punch from Qin Lun, naturally gifted with strength, simply caused it to explode into messy pulp against the wall.

Maintaining tight formation, the group moved carefully, resisting the urge to blindly sprint ahead, instead methodically knocking aside spiders raining down from above and sides. As they fought through encounters, an unexpected realization came: compared to their previous trials, this felt almost… manageable.

True, the sticky silk proved annoying. Warned in advance, however, Winnie and Rand perfectly timed their actions, crisply burning off strands clinging to their comrades. Faced by larger waves surging forth as a mass, quick flashes of light or fireballs effectively scattered the hungry swarms.

The situation was still perilously hazardous, yet somehow, the frantic, helpless edge from last night vanished. Gradually clarity emerged: the comparative ease wasn’t due to the Eight-Eyed Spiders lacking power; but rather a result of forging true coordination and unspoken mutual trust during their intense journey together.

Within this battle rhythm, even Sif, typically liability material, started contributing surprisingly well by fending off aggressors with simply his lit torch. Requiring no constant guarding from others now, he relieved a fundamental pressure on his comrades’ actions.

To the Highland Elf and the three Thornblood Mercenaries, such coordinated movements might come instinctively. For the three Apostles? Deeper insights stirred within.

Despite outward harmony at times, their small group fundamentally differed from what constituted a committed Apostle team. Only now did they genuinely appreciate what defined a cohesive adventuring party – the intangible quality beyond individual skills.

Qin Lun, Hill, and Rand each boasted sufficient combat prowess to pull their own weight. Barring major danger either could stand alone effectively. Still, something critical remained missing.

A genuinely exceptional team amplified every member’s output beyond the limits defined by mere one-hundred-percent performance. One plus one must equal more than mere two; synergy needed to unlock strengths singular individuals never possessed, synergistic factors essential to survival within Shattered Starry Sky environments.

That synergy anchored the true worth of Apostle teams and combat specialization paths as envisioned by Star Void itself: each member ideally found mastery in one prime discipline; established to form gaps deliberately filled by another, thereby together enhancing collective abilities beyond theoretical maximum capacities.

“It’s shining ahead! Looks like an exit in front!” Qin Lun breathed excitedly while running.

“Stay alert,” Mastashia commanded seriously. “Spider attacks will only intensify near escape. Save celebrations for later.”

Her value remained undeniable; all silently appreciated having a Harper Master onboard regarding Toluk essentials like these. Individual combat proficiency wise? Perhaps she wasn’t the strongest team member; yet in terms significance unto overall survival? Even three Apostles silently agreed her contributions were irreplaceable exactly at moments like these.

“We’re finally OUT!” Exhausted relief washed over everyone as warm sunlight touched their skin; they slumped instantly wherever they stood, hearts swelling with pure joy.

Glancing back at the yawning darkness they miraculously emerged from? A shiver of breathless anxiety struck anew. On second thought, although lacking single-threat lethality compared to monsters they encountered before… sheer fighting duration clicked nightmare levels here instead.

Entering this cave around dawn… emerging near twilight! Even Qin Lun privately admitted: surviving that relentless tension alone seemed theoretically impossible. Victory truly belonged solely unto their coordinated team as one unit.

“Perhaps back in our own world,” Rand voiced a thought within their internal Team Channel link only Apostles shared as they collected themselves leisurely afterward checking surroundings now visible clearly… “It’s time we seriously consider formal team establishment… Adventuring solo deep within Quest Worlds like this… simply unsustainable.”

Hill’s brief glance mirrored Qin Lun’s; both conveying shared agreement via silent signals though remaining outwardly focused elsewhere checking perimeter safety first without physical nods.

Individual strength and meticulous preparation mattered little when Star Void assigned increasingly dangerous Mid-Magic Worlds following their current level progression curve. Willingness irrelevant: solo era naturally faded away at this stage. Survival demanded cooperation now – Serial Killers must learn reliance upon trusted companions momentarily… Or perish inevitably upon paths chosen earlier than expected otherwise.

Regaining breath finally, surveying environment revealed stunning peacefulness post Eight-Eyed Spider cavern passage: a small valley basin opened miraculously ahead! First proper greenscape appearance since entering besides rare Swamp Banyan Trees earlier! Robust pine-like mountain landscape greenery filled slopes encircling natural bowl formation below them presently populated sparsely still yet conveying vibrant lifeforce screams utterly absent everywhere walking ‘Death Lands’ surrounding region earlier.

Heartbeat rhythms slowed perceptibly instantly; sounds returned… insects buzzing… birdsong… surging ecosystem energies easing heartstrings relentlessly stretched near breaking point earlier since journey starting phases.

“HAHAHA!” Sif exploded into hoarse yelling dancing randomly comically. “We crossed through that damn Death Lands alive!”

“More like cutting diagonally across? Hardly traversing entirely,” Mastashia grinned broadly, sporting mood lifting drastically as fully embracing incredible feat survived even by her experiences back tracking history as senior Harper! “Different entrance point meant massive mileage saved… Yet core region zone still remained untouched entirely not trespassed… Traditional legends tell Balduran crossed True East-West… Ours merely… slanted.”

No matter what labeling… If recounting truthfully upon return among human settlements safely later… This journey itself qualified legendary amongst adventuring circles easily despite shorter distance indeed concerning core impacts potentially greater still…

“Speaking of legends…” Lago suddenly groaned cluelessly aloud… “Shame Balduran’s inherited treasures must remain lost forever beyond us…”

Brief smiles flickered immediately exchanged between Qin Lun’s trio behind mentioned Harper Master listening close now monitoring group recovery states alertly… Lago misunderstood majorly though. Finding ‘Balduran’s Trace’ Plot Mission proof item held no actual connection revealing treasure location… That Legendary Pirate ultimately remained human… Impossible scenario leaving his collected valuables nearby Troll tribal zone presumptively… Possibly securing claimed relics required stepping directly into dreaded Death Lands heart itself as he likely once did… not merely skirting periphery lake domain as carefully achieved via Toad-Squid instead…

True treasure… meant venturing straight where even Legends Powerhouses trembled… an expedition realistically demanding command performances gathering veteran adventuring companies properly structured genuinely… multiple teams serving front-line meatshielding roles absorbing hits chiefly… anchored around legendary-level figureheads cooperating alongside direct fighting elite groups… they knew instantly: resources currently available proved inadequate hundredfold beyond reach truth told honestly…

Hence practical thinking accepted leaving Plot Mission unfulfilled – permissible outcome under Star Void guidelines apparently concerning preliminary probing explorations exclusively… Maybe following Apostles arriving Toril World next cycle would receive updated suggestions attempting target Balduran legacy anew… But as current actors, personal responsibilities concluded here fully… Not solely relieved actually… part felt strangely cruel amusement imagining subsequent Apostles likely proceeding blindly towards inevitable massive tombstone inscription awaiting ill-prepared adventurers foolish enough entering that truly cursed land unprepared… team like Lost didn’t exist currently carrying Apostle community interests forward…

Unless multiple High-Rank Apostle teams coordinated under unified command structure found courage tackling titanic quests simultaneously? Otherwise Death Lands served simply as mass grave collectors steadily collecting raw Apostle materials harvested brutally without leaving traces easily recovered once falling victims actually…

WHOOMP!

Thought spiraling abruptly snapped by loud concern nearby suddenly…

“Focus people…” Mastashia stepped assertively center observing party fatigue… “Remember primary purpose collected here… Don’t forget: lives still hang threat balance somewhere deep forest ahead awaiting rescue…”