Jax checked the system interface one last time. There was no mistake. It was a Tier 3 monster: the Acid-Web Arachnid.
Panic rippled through the group. They scrambled back to their rooms, hurriedly stashing their Credits before rushing to the storage cache to arm themselves. Their faces were ashen, stripped of all color.
"Hey, relax," Jax said, his voice steady. "It’s a single target. Yes, it’s Tier 3, but one spider isn't going to tear this place down. We have Sentry Towers and a Howitzer Turret."
Jax genuinely didn't see the cause for such alarm. To him, a lone enemy was manageable, especially with three Defense Towers and multiple layers of Walls protecting them. Even if the beast proved resilient, he could simply deploy his Decoy Clone again. He would take it down, one way or another.
But his confidence failed to contagious. If anything, the team grew more agitated.
"You don't understand, Boss," Gareth said, his grip white-knuckled around his weapon. "I know these things. The last time The Sprawl was attacked, it was Acid-Web Arachnids. They slaughtered people by the droves. Their venom is potent—one drop touches you, and your skin rots off your bones until there's nothing left."
Gareth shuddered, the memories of The Sprawl flashing behind his eyes. The images were gruesome enough to make his scalp prickle with phantom pain.
Kaleb, infected by Gareth's terror, chimed in, his voice trembling. "He's right. Those spiders are nightmares. My sister and I were in the city when it happened. The streets... the alleys... they were choked with bodies. There wasn't enough room in the incinerators to burn them all."
Jax looked at them, surprised by the intensity of their trauma. He knew of the event, but the reality he remembered was far less apocalyptic.
Then it clicked. At the time, Jax had been in Redrock Bastion, not The Sprawl.
The Sprawl was merely the first line of defense to the north. If it fell, Redrock Bastion would be next. But during that invasion, Redrock had deployed its elite Insect Hunting Teams immediately. Thanks to their support and the city's heavy Defense Towers, The Sprawl had held the line, preventing a total massacre.
"Alright, that’s enough," Jax said, cutting through the rising hysteria. "Don't lose your heads over a single Tier 3 insectoid. Look at me—do I look worried? I’ve got plenty of trump cards left to play."
He gripped Gareth’s shoulder firmly, shaking him slightly to snap him out of it. "Stop demoralizing the troops."
Gareth looked into Jax’s calm eyes and swallowed hard. He nodded. The fear was still there, clawing at his gut, but Jax’s unwavering confidence acted as an anchor. The Boss had already proven his strength; if anyone could survive this, it was him.
The team readied their weapons. Except for Barnaby, who remained stoic, everyone looked like they were marching to their execution. Despite his outward bravado, Jax felt a twinge of anxiety. This was a Tier 3 creature, after all, not some low-tier fodder he could casually stomp on.
Suddenly, a sharp chime rang in Jax's mind.
[WARNING: Unknown insectoid monster approaching. Please replenish Defense Tower Energy Shards immediately!]
Jax narrowed his eyes, peering into the gloom. "It's here."
The others couldn't see the creature yet, but they trusted Jax implicitly. Hands slick with sweat tightened around sword hilts.
Minutes later, through the curtain of relentless rain, massive, spindly silhouettes emerged on the road.
"There! The Acid-Web Arachnid!" Kaleb yelled.
Everyone strained their eyes against the downpour. Eight long, bristly legs pierced the mist, moving with unsettling grace. Jax took a deep breath, locking his gaze on the monstrosity.
BOOM!
Behind them, the Howitzer Turret roared to life. A streak of crimson light tore through the grey sky, arching perfectly toward the target.
As the projectile flew, Jax noted the spider's reaction speed and glanced at Gareth. "You said you saw these things up close?"
"Yes! With my own eyes," Gareth replied, his voice cracking. "The Wolf Pack guild... five hundred of us. Less than a hundred survived. That Insect Swarm wiped us off the map." Tears welled in the corner of his eyes.
Jax sighed, softening his tone. "If you've fought them, I need intel. Describe its abilities. Now."
Gareth wiped his face and focused. "Its main weapon is the web. It spits toxic, highly adhesive nets. If it hits you, you're dead—you can't break free. But the real threat is the brood. It carries a sac of spiderlings on its back. They're fast, small, and hard to track. One bite, and the poison kills you in seconds."
Jax looked back at the battlefield just as the Howitzer shell began its descent.
The Arachnid reared back and spat a stream of white fluid. The liquid expanded in mid-air, weaving into a dense, sticky net that intercepted the shell before impact.
Whump.
The explosion was muffled. The web absorbed the blast and shrapnel, containing the force. The spider remained unharmed.
"Damn it!" Jax scowled. "It’s a hard counter to the Howitzer."
Another shell whistled through the air. Again, the spider sprayed its silk, neutralizing the attack with frustrating ease.
"Movement speed?" Jax demanded.
"Not fast," Gareth said quickly. "About the same as a Sandworm."
"Good. If it's slow, we can kite it," Jax muttered. "But the spiderlings... you said they're fast?"
"Very. Once they get within a meter, they practically fly. They burrow into the skin... the death is... ugly."
Jax nodded grimly, finally getting a clear look at the beast.
The creature stood nearly two meters tall at the body, but its legs spanned over six meters. Thick, coarse hair covered its chitinous limbs. Attached to its abdomen was a pulsating white sac—the brood Gareth had warned about.
The monster entered the kill zone.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
The two Sentry Towers opened fire. With an attack speed of 1.0, they unleashed a steady rhythm of bolts. But the arrows merely bounced off the creature's thick carapace, failing to penetrate.
"Useless," Jax cursed. "This thing is a tank."
The Acid-Web Arachnid stepped over the first Wall effortlessly, pivoting toward the second line of defense.
"Are you kidding me? Is it invincible?"
"Wait!" Kaleb shouted, his eyes widening. "I remember something!"
Everyone whipped their heads toward him. "What?"
"Back in the city... the veterans said you have to use fire! They're terrified of fire!"
"Fire?" Jax looked up at the torrential rain pounding against his face. "In this weather? Are you serious? Give me something practical!"
Kaleb laughed nervously. "Right, there's one more thing!"
"Stop drip-feeding me intel! Spit it all out!"
"They said... once it releases the spiderlings, it means the main body is weak! It's a last resort!"
Jax’s blood ran cold. "Spiderlings... wait. Can those little bastards climb walls?"
"Of course they can! They're spiders!"
"Shit!" Jax roared. "Torches! Get the Torches! Light up the entire perimeter of the platform! Now!"
The team scrambled back toward the fortress, frantically trying to reignite the bonfires and grab torches.
Down below, the Arachnid had already bypassed the outer defenses.
"It's coming! Are you ready?" Jax yelled over the storm.
"Ready!" "Almost!" "My fire went out! I'm adding oil!"
Jax watched the chaos, his heart sinking. The rain was against them, and the team was panicked.
"Damn it," he gritted his teeth, his hand drifting to his weapon. "Do I have to go down there and bait it myself?"
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