The dim tunnel was permeated with a nauseating smell, as green blood from the Giant Spider continuously dripped along its massive web.
Arachno, like its spider relatives, was always collectively referred to as "Giant Spider Monster" by most illiterate adventurers.
Only those who truly understood them knew that this was a special giant spider capable of weaving poisonous giant webs.
The thick web was extraordinarily conspicuous, causing weak demons to keep their distance.
But there were always some demons who, relying on their strong bodies and formidable strength, never took the web seriously.
These were exactly the prey Arachno targeted.
However, today, it was clearly defeated.
A giant axe embedded right in the center of the spider monster's head, smashing it brutally.
Huff— huff—
The bull-headed, human-bodied demon breathed heavily as it lifted its axe, shaking off most of the sticky blood with a slight flick.
The massive four-and-a-half-meter-tall body, with muscles bulging under its skin, was an especially strong individual even among Minotaurs.
Under its frenzied attack, the hunter became the hunted.
Yet, it wasn't unscathed either.
The poison from touching the web spread along the veins in its left arm, and its Level 5 poison resistance only prevented further spread.
In the short term, losing an arm would make survival in the Underground City very difficult.
Fortunately, this problem would no longer trouble it soon.
A pure black dagger emerged from the shadows, lightly circling the Minotaur's thick neck, slicing through its throat as easily as tofu.
Looking at the fallen, twitching Minotaur, Night Owl stepped out from the darkness, complaining to the three others who had just arrived:
"A Level 40 Minotaur like this could serve as a treasure chest guard on the Eighth Floor. If it wasn't in poor condition, I would have had to put in a lot of effort.
I have a feeling that if we keep hanging around like this, we're bound to encounter some real trouble sooner or later.
Nova, about how much further is it, roughly?"
Nova touched the Guiding Crystal in his hand: "Not far now. The variations in direction are getting bigger, indicating we're close."
"Gall, help me cut open its abdomen."
Ivan pointed at the spider's corpse, directing his teammate.
"Why? The bodily fluids of Giant Spider Monsters are incredibly stinky…"
Gall wore a reluctant look but still pulled out a dissection knife to slice open the spider's belly.
Sure enough, a foul stench rushed out, and he quickly fanned the air with his hands and stepped back two paces.
Ivan, on the other hand, dashed forward with shining eyes, utterly ignoring the stench, stretching out his hands to retrieve an organ from inside.
"Indeed, it's Arachno. This poison sac is the best material for setting up a poison cloud ritual!"
Watching Ivan take out a delicate box and carefully store the malodorous poison sac, Nova then directed the others to move forward.
He had a hunch that they would encounter their target in no more than three more caverns.
————
In fact, after passing through another cavern with a few scattered Fire Mosquitoes, they arrived at their destination.
Outside the Mushroom Garden, the four faced an unbelievable scene—a group of Pukis was occupying territory even in the deep levels!?
Wait a minute, why would there be Pukis in the Deep Area?
Sure, there were demons of all levels in the Deep Area, but they didn't include Pukis, which have no survival skills...
Not to mention, wouldn't those neighboring Fire Mosquitoes treat them as a buffet all day?
Gall gaped, muttering after a long while: "If it's here, then I think I understand why that young lady is still alive..."
"Here comes one."
A Puki waddled its short legs toward them.
Only then did Ivan remember to use his Reconnaissance Skill to investigate.
"So it is Level 1... huh? Skills? There's..."
But someone reacted faster than him; as the Puki approached, Night Owl's figure disappeared.
[Shadow Shifting Level 9]
As experienced adventurers, they would never be misled by seemingly harmless scenes, attacking with full strength right out of the gate.
In a flash, she appeared behind the Puki, slashing down with her Black Blade—
Boom—
"Night Owl! Be... careful..."
Ivan's warning only arrived belatedly.
Fortunately, it was just a small explosion that couldn't really harm Night Owl.
However, as she backed out from the smoke, she looked disheveled and glared fiercely at Ivan, almost questioning him out loud.
"Haha... sorry, it's too strange, I got distracted..."
"I've never heard of a walking mushroom exploding, and the others don't seem like regular walking mushrooms either."
Nova pointed to several Cannon Mushrooms nearby, swiftly changing the subject.
Ivan used another Reconnaissance Skill: "Those few can launch Magic Cannon attacks. The power is not great, and they don't appear to be very aggressive, do they?"
Indeed, despite their group having taken out a self-destructing one, the other Pukis remained unfazed, neither attacking nor fleeing.
Very strange.
"Should we clear them all out?"
Night Owl asked while gearing up to act. Having just lost face, she was still holding back her frustration.
But Nova held her down.
"Wait, the Duchess is still in there. Causing chaos might have unknown consequences.
Since the threat is low and they don't attack us actively, let's just go in.
Stay vigilant at all times."
The last instruction was directed at the Half-dragon, who needed to protect his companions in the event of a surprise attack.
[Substitute Injury Level 7]
[Shield Domain Level 8]
[Group Defense Enhancement Lv8]
The Half-dragon cast several guardian skills in succession.
"Alright, let's go in."
————
As soon as the group entered the tunnel connecting the Fire Mosquito nest, Lin Jun sensed their presence through the mushrooms in the passage.
The Great Mage Ivan hadn't detected Lin Jun, who was secretly monitoring the entire Mushroom Garden, and their conversation was overheard by Lin Jun word for word.
However,
He couldn't understand...
It should have been expected; the language of this otherworld indeed isn't Earth's language?
Communicating with Inanna through the Fungal Network was essentially a mental local area network, transmitting thoughts instead of language, so there was naturally no language barrier.
Now encountering people truly speaking the otherworld's language, it was indeed incomprehensible...
Even though he couldn't understand, Lin Jun hadn't seen a human in all these years, and now a group had come clearly targeting the Mushroom Garden.
There's a ninety percent chance their target is Inanna.
Just not sure whether they're here to kill her or rescue her.
Inanna has a [Tracking Mark] on her, probably placed by her Duke father.
So this group is likely here to rescue her.
Even if not, Lin Jun didn't have many solutions now.
It's not that he was unwilling to protect the little follower he'd picked up, but he only had 40 combat Pukis and 100 support Pukis at hand.
After looking at the four opponents, the lowest was Level 52, and the highest was Level 58.
All of them were higher level than Earth Worms, with a panel full of well-coordinated high-level skills.
This lineup wouldn't stand a chance even if he unleashed his trump card, the strongest Puki.
As for escape?
They had been precisely tracked and located; where could he possibly take her?
Watching the Pink Puki clumsily practicing magic in the garden, Lin Jun felt it was time to give her a heads-up.
"Inanna."
"What is it, boss?"
"Your family sent someone to get you, possibly..."
"My family? Possibly?"
"They might also be here to kill you…"
"..."